What a Broken Mess!

As most people throughout the country know, a few weeks ago were quite interesting regarding the weather. Hurricane Ida came ashore in the Gulf, crossed over land and into the Atlantic, redeveloped and hit the Mid-Atlantic States as what many meteorologists are calling the "Perfect Storm". A low pressure system merged with a high just off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia, and thus Nor'Ida. What a broken mess she left!
Here in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia alone, she did devastating and extensive damage. I have lived here most of my life, and have never seen or heard of such flooding! Even in some of the hurricanes we have had through the years. In some areas, water was chest deep, or more. Homes were destroyed, cars totalled, piers washed away, and even a barge broke loose and came ashore! All from a nor'easter! WOW! We had about a foot of rain in our yard, yet fortunately it peaked to the point that any more just flowed into the storm drains. Praise the Lord for that! The flow of water sounded like a waterfall, or rapids even. It was incredible. Out in Virginia Beach, hurricane force winds reached gusts of 75 mph. We were very blessed, and spared tremendously in our personal little corner of it all.
So you may wonder, why am I posting about this? What does this have to do with 'now' and everyday life? Well, I have been seriously reflecting life and the brokeness of it all. As christians, it is so easy to read our Bibles, go to church and Sunday school, walk the walk, and talk the talk when life is going well. Yet when the tables turn and difficulties and trials come our way, how do we respond? What is our reaction? Are we following Christ and reflecting His image then?
Human nature often gets on it's high horse when things go wrong, or take an unexpected turn. We want to rant and rave over how and why circumstances may not be right, or fair even. However, the bible teaches us that nothing happens by chance, it is all part of God's plan. The hows and whys of life are often far too big and complex to understand or wrap our brains around. We want to know how make circumstances better, understand why situations arise and fix things so they are right again. However I am learning that while life may be messy, and full of brokeness, God has a purpose for it all. It is His plan, not ours as the book of Romans reminds us.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.           
                                                                                                                     Romans 8:28

We often keep our areas of struggle and brokeness to ourselves. Tucked away, hidden, inside a box, so that only a few truly see all of our lives. Why do we hesitate to share the problems? The pain and sorrow? Is it pride, or shame? Perhaps a fear of judgement that we are really not all that 'together'? A dear friend recently shared a verse with me that spoke volumes!

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,

but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

                                                                              Proverbs 14:4

You see, over the last several months, God has been doing great works in our household. As some of you may know, last spring I had a cervical discectomy, with three vertebrae fused together. The surgery went well, yet two weeks after I suffered from a pulmonary embolism. The Emergency Room doctor basically told me I was one of the few cases they see from time to time and can't medically explain why the outcome was as it was. God had His hand on me, and saved my life. Statistically, I should not have made it. Most people die from a pulmonary embolism.

Later into the summer, I remember just shaking my head from it all, still in disbelief. Why me? Why was I given grace? Why had the Lord chosen this path for me? I remember sharing my story with someone at church one Sunday, and my friend looked me straight in the eyes and saying, "The Lord has a very special plan for you. You are going to be around a LONG time!" I was taken back, but knew God was definitely at work. HARD work! Life is not always a bed of roses, and even in our messes, God is at work! I am definitely a work in progress!
Through the fall, the Lord has revealed some new paths for our family. Some that were sort of expected, and others not so much. Just when I thought I had it 'all together', God stepped in and reminded me that this is His plan! I can look back and reflect over the year and see how God has been laying the foundation for our new journey. I will be writing about our new journey in the days to come!