Never Ever Dull
With every conversation, I always seem to end with "Never a dull moment"....our lives are rich, complex, and beautiful stories. Join me in laughing about everyday things and appreciating life-bumpy roads and all.
I awoke to flashing lights, red and blue. I rubbed my head to see if this was a dream or reality. It wasn't a dream, not by far. I peeked out the blinds and peered from my bedroom window. Seeing the source of the lights, I slipped on the shoes closest to me, grabbed a coat, and headed downstairs. 14 steps. It doesn't sound like a long journey, but it was.
You see, the last two days had been rainy. That doesn't sound too out of the ordinary, but it really was extraordinary. My little town of Franklin had received 20 inches of rain in 48 hours. What are the results with that much rainfall in a short amount of time? Flooding. Not just puddles overflowing making cars splash as they drive down the roadways. This was major flooding and I happened to live in an area close to the Harpeth River. And my home happened to be on low land. The result? Those flashing lights. I had enjoyed living in my 100-year old arts and crafts home. It had come a long way in that first year that my children and I lived there. I had tackled pulling down wallpaper, repairing plaster walls, and learning to simply paint over the wallpaper so I wouldn't create anymore plaster problems. I had pulled up linoleum floors, yanked out red formica countertops, and knocked down walls to restore this home to its original state. I had found joy in sanding, painting, replacing light fixtures, hanging up a porch swing....but I had not paid much attention to what was holding up the house. Lesson learned: The foundation of a house is critical. Restoring and decorating are fun, but it's what holds up the house that is the most important. After discussing my options with the police officer, I walked back into my home. I had a choice: to pack up and leave immediately or remain. The police officer explained that they would not be able to return to my area because it was now a risk. They had purchased every boat in our region and transported my neighbors out of the flood waters. She said that I needed to make a decision quickly if I wanted to get out; otherwise, I'd have to remain. My decision rested on what was behind the dark wooden cellar door. Once the rain had started, the kids and I evacuated to the cellar when we heard tornado sirens. It was during those times that we all noticed the water seeping into the cellar. Now, 48 hours of rain had occurred, and I needed to see how much water was behind that door. I turned the old brass knob above the skeletal key hole and heard the sound of water. I looked down and saw the water was only two to three steps away from approaching the first level of my home. It was time to flee. My girls helped me awaken the boys and gather our necessities. We helped our old golden, Mocha, into the back of our green Windstar van. I remember us debating on what to do with Tripod, our 3-legged cat. To coerce Tripod into a crate would take hours and we'd look like Chewbacca multiplied after wrestling her into that metal cage. We opted to close her into a room on the top floor of our home. We headed out. As we waited for the rain to cease and the floodwaters to rise, all I could think about was what was under the house. The house sat on pillars made of rocks cemented together. Surrounding those rock pillars was dirt, not concrete. When this home was built, the area was dug out, pillars placed, and then the house built. What happens when dirt meets water? Erosion, wash-out, mud. My mind raced with thoughts: Would the pillars withstand the flood waters? Would the dirt hold in place or wash away taking the house down? Was the house going to make it? All of a sudden, it no longer mattered what paint I had selected or which light fixtures I had chosen. What was of utmost importance was what held up the house, what the foundation was and if it would remain intact supporting the home. I pondered. I filled up with anxiety and worried. I contemplated what was next for us. It all came down to those rock pillars. Pulling back, I realize that my faith is so similar to this moment. So often, actually too often, I elect to spend time on things that are wonderful but not essential. What's essential are those pillars. What's holding up your faith? How strong is your foundation? When's the last time you checked to ensure that your foundation is firmly grounded? Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain....Psalm 127
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AuthorFun-loving mom to 4 kids and 1 big puppy. Fifth grade teacher of amazing little people who have never ending things to share with me. Love to discuss Jesus, diy projects, and life. Trying to keep it simple: Love Jesus, love people. Archives
December 2021
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