Tap Tap Whiiiiiinnnneee Screech in Pensacola
Pensacola is a Job kind of city, circumstances keep sending lethal blows and Pensacola keeps bouncing back, but not without pain. Already, we have had floods this year, record rains, and several of the places who were flooded, Waterfront Mission, Manna Food Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, etc. were charities on which the poorest of the poor, the jobless, the homeless and the transients, rely.
And now Isaac.
Sunday mornings, as in many towns in the South, the people go to church. The biggest churches are Baptist and then maybe Methodist. Then comes the rest of us, the Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, the Congregationalists, the Unitarians, the Mormons, so many different kinds of Christians!
We hit the early service, which, for one of the last Sundays in August, was relatively well attended. After church, while it was still relatively cool outside (in the 80’s F. not the 90’s F.) we put up our window shields and brought all our outside furnishings inside. Tomorrow we will bring the plants into the garage. Anything that can be picked up by a high wind can become a missile; we want to give the high winds as little ammunition as possible.
All aroound us we can hear the tap tap of hammers hammering in plywood slabs (those who were lucky enough to buy plywood early; rumor has it that there is no more plywood to be found) and the whiiiiinnnee of electric drills screwing window coverings on and the Sccrrreeeeech of window coverings being drawn closed. We are also exchanging phone numbers, so we can help one another if the worst happens, and we suffer a direct hit.
Today, Father Tim reminded us in the midst of all our self-absorption and survival-oriented errands that we are to be a blessing to others. I saw that happen when Hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola, and our son stayed. He met another fellow living nearby and they have become fast friends. Out of the worst circumstances, can come great blessings.
We trust God has this all in his hands. And we also continue our preparations against the coming of Isaac.
The newest 5 day forecast shows Isaac has wobbled to the West:
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Wobbled to the west , and seemed to be delayed one day from your last post, thats hopefully good news
Here is what the Muslims should say in such events ,
The prophet Muhammad PBUH used to say (Hadith = the sayings of the Prophet ) whenever the strong Wind blows ,
« O God I ask you for the goodness of this wind, and the goodeness it contains, and the goodness of what it was sent for, and I seek refuge in You from its evil , the evil it contains ,and the evil that it was sent for »
Ameen
My friend in Texas proposed a good prayer – that the dry winds calm the hurricane as it heads toward Texas, and that it arrive powerless to damage, but it drops all its moisture on Texas, where people have been praying for rain. Good idea!
I love your quote from the Hadith. It is also a worthy prayer. Yes, ‘for the goodness of this wind, for the goodnesses it contains, and the goodness of what it was sent for, and I seek refuge in YOU from its evil!’ Yes, I can pray that prayer!
Here are some from the books of songs of David / Daoud, which we both share:
Psalm 83:15
. . so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!
Psalm 197:29
He calmed the hurricanes and they stopped and the waves of the sea were quieted.
Psalm 148: 8-14
8 Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders; 9 Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; 10 Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; 11 Earth’s kings and all races, leaders and important people, 12 Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children. 13 Let them praise the name of God – it’s the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; 14 he’s built a monument – his very own people! Praise from all who love God! Israel’s children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah!
Amen, indeed. You must be exhausted from preparations…praying now for peace as you wait, and only goodness from the storm. Gulf coast residents are a hardy breed, to annually endure the hurricane threat as you do. May you all be safe in the storm. And I’m also praying that you do not lose electricity….damage or no damage, being hot and wet would just make me really grumpy.
Grammy, we’re trying to pray for dry air to rob the storm of its destructive force, but to head all that moisture (i.e. RAIN) your way 🙂 Meanwhile, there is plenty of time to wobble. We’re pretty well prepared, and hoping it’s just a windy rain.