The Storm Named Sandy

               If you live on the East Coast of the United States, the name Sandy suddenly has a new meaning.  Before last week, when I thought of the name Sandy, I thought of Sandy Duncan who played Peter Pan when I was a child.  Now I think of a tropical storm/hurricane coming to our Nation’s Capital.  The weather reports have shut down the schools, the county government and the federal government.   I made the mistake of stopping by the grocery store today for orange juice and yogurt and found long lines at the checkout.  My Eagle Scout husband made sure that both of our cars are filled with gas!

                Saturday morning, at Mass, my pastor prayed a Collect for averting storms.  In it the prayer reads, “Still this awesome storm that it may become an occasion for us to praise you.”  What a beautiful phrase and a hopeful way to look at this impending weather event.  This event helps me to realize that there are many occurrences in life over which I have little control. And it is good to take time to praise our Lord and pray for our needs.

               And if we lose power, then there will be time for our family to unplug and spend time playing board games (I think a massive Monopoly game may be on the horizon) and hang out together.  Potentially a great blessing in this all too busy life that we life!  

              Yet this prayer is just as applicable when confronting many of the storms of life.  A parent with cancer, the sudden death of a young person, a tragic accident resulting in a loved one in the hospital, the loss of a job and the list could go on and on of the storms that we face in life.  With each storm, we can pray for the Lord to still it that we may use the occasion to praise Him.

Storms

An earthquake on Tuesday and a rain/wind weather event from Hurricane Irene on Saturday.  It has been an eventful weather week in the DC area.  During the past 24 hours, I don’t think I’ve had a conversation that hasn’t referenced the storm.  The news media has done nothing except play on our human fears, causing people to buy far more water, batteries and peanut butter than they will need in the coming year.  (I’m just thankful that they didn’t know the earthquake was coming.)

However, another event, with only a local impact, will most likely affect my life more than either of these events over the next months.  On Friday, I learned that a parish member, who has several young children, has ovarian cancer.  While we hear about all types of cancer in the news and are bombarded with requests to support cancer research, somehow when someone I know is diagnosed, cancer is spelled with a capital “C”.  Having lost my grandma, for whom I was named, and both parents to cancer, the news evokes all kinds of emotions. 

It makes me realize that it is time to get on my knees and pray for this family, as well as offer assistance with things like transportation, childcare and meals.  The forecasters of the outcome of this storm will not be meteorologists, but a variety of oncologists and their colleagues.   Family and friends at times will feel helpless, but those who trust in Christ and ask, “His will be done”, will not be hopeless.  Whatever the outcome of this storm, the suffering endured will create many blessings. 

When I think of the event of the past week, I realize that I must trust in Jesus.   No matter how unexpected or frightening the storm, I must believe that He knows what He is doing.  No matter how sorrowful or joyful the event, it is what I need at this moment.  Even when I would rather not hunker down, waiting for Irene to arrive or to hear of the illness of a friend, there is a reason for the event.

On this Monday morning, the weather forecast is for sunny, clear skies for the next few days.  The effects of the earthquake and Irene will soon be forgotten.  My fellow parish member and her family are adjusting to the unexpected news and assessing the next steps.  It is trust in our great and mighty Lord that will take us through this day and beyond.