Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain. – Psalm 127:1
Thursday, October 10. Once again we are racing through a week and it is hard to account for what has been accomplished along the way. Regular routines, of course: the Tuesday men’s Bible study for me, then the Wednesday morning’s women’s group Rebekah is teaching. Plus a routine doctor’s appointment in Raleigh consuming much of a day.
Always, half in focus half out of the corner of one eye, there is paying attention to the tropics. Hurricane Helene just a couple of weeks ago, coming in via Tampa-St. Pete then the Big Bend and up through much of Georgia, eventually devastating Western North Carolina.
And now extreme major hurricane Milton, threatening to be the most significant weather event in over one hundred years, slamming smack dab into the Tampa Bay vicinity on its way through to our old home in Brandon and setting sights on our family in Orlando.
It is hard not to lose focus on what is in front of us when something that monstrous is in the peripheral vision.
But life goes on:
But of course life goes on; it has to. Here in Tarboro 408 Saint Patrick Street is showing signs of progress with the added benefit of an industrious new crew member who is doing most excellent work everywhere that demands his attention.
I know things are going well. The church is thriving, the anniversary celebrations are coming to a climax October 20th, the new book is forging ahead – albeit slowly, and the house is moving right along…
Yet, I have this hard to shake sense that everything is essentially “on hold” until we are at last moved in and free from this “juggling three homes” situation. The Wake Forest house; the rental here on Saint James; the exciting “new” house on Saint Patrick.
But life, of course, is day-to-day; not tomorrow but today. There is no “hold” button and why should there be? Each new morning presents a fresh tablet on which something can be – must be – written.
Somebody wakes up in Tampa to find that their house is gone, or damaged beyond repair. Our family in Orlando look around and assess any damage to their brand new home. A community in the North Carolina mountains finally gets the power restored, but still no water. A couple of American schoolteachers working in Poland share knowledge and promise and encouragement in their classrooms. A “retired” couple in Tarboro walk some friends through this half-completed restoration project.
For all of us this is a new day full with promise. The real question is, “What are we going to make of it?”
May the love of God be our guide – DEREK