I’ve finally been able to get out and ride a couple of times since Hurricane Florence came crawling through our beautiful state which means, you guessed it, I’m about to ramble.
Every time I ride I do a few things to prepare for the ride. I check the tires, check my mileage so I know how long I can ride before I need to stop for gas, make sure my windshield is not covered with those lovely dead bugs making my sight limited, make sure my gps location is sharing with my hubby, and then of course I prepare my mind with a prayer before leaving. I planned to ride on Friday before the hurricane hit, but when I told my hubby my plans he told me it was taking a chance because the winds were already picking up. He then said I “really shouldn’t be on the bike.” Initially I was bummed because I really wanted to get in a ride before the storm, but then after thinking about it I instead felt very blessed. I am blessed to have a hubby who loves me enough to tell me something even when he knows I don’t want to hear it, because he knows it’s in my best interest. I agreed to stay off the bike that day.
Florence wreaked havoc from the coast to the mountains and beyond. As I rode today and Tuesday I was thinking back at things that occurred prior to, during, and after her visit. We were warned that this storm would mean possible record making rains that would most definitely cause flooding as well as strong winds that could cause downed trees and power outages. Living in the country, that means if we lose power we also have no water. I decided we needed to be prepared ahead of time in order to have peace if the predictions held true. Rather than trying to rush to the store at the last minute for things I went early in the week and got some simple things we could cook on the grill or eat without heating, got extra propane for the grill, and some other basic necessities. I also filled up some gallon jugs with water to drink, filled a 55 gallon barrel with water for flushing toilets, and filled a plastic storage tub with water to wash up with if needed. My dogs got extra cedar shavings too so their houses might be a little bit drier if the wind blew rain in, which it did.
The storm came through very slowly and it dumped plenty of rain that did cause flooding and washed out roads. The wind blew pretty consistently with a few strong gusts that made the entire house feel like it was shaking and it did cause power outages, though we never lost power. No matter how bad it seemed to get I had an inner peace. The wind howled and the rain poured out of the sky, but there was peace.
I thought back to my faithful little hummingbird that’s been here all summer. On Friday even as the winds were picking up, there it was trying to get some nectar. I noticed it going from hole to hole, rather than sitting and drinking like it normally does. After it flew away I went to check the feeder and the ants had found it. I quickly cleaned it out and got fresh nectar made in case it was able to return again before the winds got too bad. I contemplated taking it down at night due to the winds but decided to leave it out just in case this determined little beauty returned. As soon as the rain and winds calmed down, it was right back at the feeder! A dove was back happily splashing in the bird bath as well.
Thinking about this as I rode made me also think of the scripture Matthew 6:26 ” Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Surely if God can protect and provide for something as small and fragile as a humming bird during a hurricane, he can protect and provide for me. This is where my peace comes from. I know I am in His hands and He will take care of me if I do my part as well. I am as prepared as a person can be for death, and I do not fear it. I still want to see my beautiful grand daughters growing up and have many more things I’d like to share with my hubby and the rest of my family, but when He decides it’s my time, it’s my time and I’m ok with that. It’s all about being prepared in order to have peace.
Until that day comes, I just want to live my life well!
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Switchfoot has a song called, Live it Well. The chorus says:
Life is short I want to live it well
One life, one story to tell
Life is short I want to live it well
And you’re the one I’m living for
Awaken, oh my soul!
Every breath that you take is a miracle
Life is short I want to live it well.
The last verse then says:
I got one life and one love
I got one voice
But maybe that’s enough
‘Cause with one heartbeat
And two hands to give
I got one shot
One life to live
Every breath you take is a miracle
Life is short I want to live it well.
So prepare yourselves, have peace, and live!
Ramblings of a Christian Grandma Biker 