Last year when we moved to a home that required cable to get any reception on TV, I made the request that we not get it. Last summer I spent a lot of time preparing our former home for sale and then packing it up, Paul spent a lot of time in other countries and the kids spent a lot of time in front of the television where they were safe, if indolent. By September I had three junkies. Paul, after some cajoling, agreed. We have been without TV for a year. Although I really haven’t missed it, I have realized I need a contingency plan for national or international disasters just as Paul has one for NCAA Basketball.
I knew Hurricane Katrina was coming. We prayed about it in church the Sunday before it hit, but I couldn’t really wrap my brain around category 5.
Afterwards I knew there was devastation. I knew people were being evacuated and holing up in the Super Dome. I pictured a really big flood.
Wednesday I ran errands and listened to NPR. This helped me grasp how catastrophic it was, but not fully. I almost called my friend in Evanston to ask her to TiVo the news for me.
We were at her house Thursday night. Her office had been wild because she works for a utility company and they were desperately trying to get their systems working again. After the kids were in bed I told her I really needed to watch the news.
Hours passed and I finally understood.
Unbelievable. Mind bogglingly unbelievable.
It makes my heart and brain hurt.
I can only imagine the exhaustion, frustration and hopelessness so many people are feeling.
I am praying more fervently and listening for what God is asking me to do.
I wish I had known what was going on sooner. I don’t want to hook up the TV but I am going to make it a priority to stay current through other media and go to a friend’s if necessary when there is a situation I need to see to believe.
I still can barely grasp it and I saw it unfold on tv.
Email me.
This post reminds me of the Northridge Earthquake of ’94. It was an early morning shaker, breaking one of my favorite vases. It caused quite a bit of damage to Northridge, and 57 people died, thousands of people injured. My friend, without a TV, said flippantly, “I don’t know what the big deal is. I didn’t think the earthquake was that strong.” My husband, the son of a firefighter, was horrified at her response. “People are dying. It is a big deal.” Good for you, Alison, to seek out the news so you could get perspective. I think it’s important to see the magnitude of the flooding, to break your heart the way God wants it broken, to be effective in prayer, to be truly thankful for the blessings of the day.