path of hurricane

Keep things in perspective.

We’ve had a rough couple of days at our house. It seems like the fates are conspiring to cost us money.

We’ve had to hire someone to do some painting on the exterior of our house where the wood was starting to show through.

We have some windows where the framing is leaking and causing some rot. That’ll set up back some coin.

Our bathroom is leaking. We heed a new shower head, some plumbing repairs, and – because of the leak – we’ll probably need some floor repairs

As November approaches, we’re finally ready to put on the heater. Guess what? It’s not working! I’m sure that will cost us something.

On top of all that, a few family members have hit some rough patches. When you’re family (in whatever definition you choose that to be), you step in. So we have.

I was getting a little nervous about all the out-pouring of money.

And then, I realized that at least i don’t have a hurricane barreling down on my neighborhood and I remembered after Hurricane Katrina, we lost contact with a friend who was in its path. We were scared that something had happened to her. Several days later, she contacted us. She was okay. However, the roof of her house was gone. She said she was really blessed.

“Blessed,” I asked? “You just lost your house.”

“But I’m still here to tell you. And everyone is fine. I’m really lucky.”

This column was not supposed to happen; instead, I was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at a conference in Louisiana this day.

Mother Nature had other ideas delivered as hurricane Katrina.

With indescribable sorrow and mouth agape at the sight of such awfulness, I cannot pull myself away from the plight of the Gulf Coast. Robotically, I shake my head and repeat numbly, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” It could just as easily have been an earthquake or Tsunami bringing national cameras to scrutinize my family in our most intimate, broken moments struggling to hold together, adrift, frightened, and cold in the worst of all worlds.

Due to the unsympathetic force of nature and the rearrangements being made, I have lost income.

Yet compared to my friend and associate, Myra, my costs pale. Where she lived has no roof and is full of water. In spite of that, she describes herself as “fortunate.” She spent today helping families with less. I am privileged to know her.

So very fortunate am I that I take blessings as common-day events.

When involved in the confines of day-to-day existence, I have been known to whine bitterly about sluggish traffic, jammed faxes, or misplaced keys. Broken shoelaces, missing shirt buttons, or ants on my sink irk me endlessly.

I presume my daily misadventures can indeed be labeled “problems,” and yes, they are frustrating. At the same time, reality is they are so insignificant. Too often, I become too self-centered to remember that. The dropped cellular call or the unexpected invoice becomes the world’s prime catastrophe. I puff up and spout off, grumbling to my friends, who nod in agreement. We are bonded by our miseries. When we rule the world, things will change.

In a world that can shatter instantly, where unfathomable countless thousands lack shelter, shed tears for loved ones, or cannot find food, I bemoan that I have to count fat grams or cut back on dessert. Can I even know how many pray to be in my shoes?

Peace of mind requires that I remind myself that my tribulations and troubles are usually miniscule. Put it in perspective.

Keep it in Perspective

Keep things in perspective.

I was getting a little nervous about all the out-pouring of money.

It was a great lesson.

Sometimes, we’re better off than we realize – especially when we have others who watch over us.

Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

Mother Nature had other ideas delivered as hurricane Katrina.

Due to the unsympathetic force of nature and the rearrangements being made, I have lost income.

So very fortunate am I that I take blessings as common-day events.

Life is rich. Keep it that way; shut the refrigerator door.

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