Power Outage

Well as most of you reading this probably know, we got to see the remnants of Hurricane Ike right here in Kentucky. Pretty crazy I have to say. Through a series of events, I ended up being in my car with a couple friends through the majority of the storm. We drove all around Louisville, avoiding fallen trees and power lines all the while getting pelted with debris, dust, rocks, leaves, sticks, and of course, wind. They said the winds reached 75mph, which is considered hurricane force. It was hard to keep the car going straight at times....but the Lord was watching out for us and we made it back home in one piece. Once I got home and realized the power was out there wasn't a whole lot to do. I read for a while and then cleaned. I sat outside and watched the neighbors dismantle trees from their roofs (luckily I have no major trees in my yard, although I did lose half of the only tree I do have). I sat on my front porch and read some more. And it kind of hit me.....how simple life can actually be. That all the technology we have, while great and helpful, has caused us all to be so reclusive. Everyone stays in their houses and watches TV or sit in front of the computer or kids play video games or listen to iPods. But Sunday as I looked around at the view from my front porch, I just had to stop and sort of take it all in and realize how a power outage can actually be a time to renew and return to old roots. There were actually kids outside playing, neighbors were conversing with one another, and even helping each other out. I had to use a broom instead of my vacuum cleaner - what a concept! :) It made me remember how much I actually like manual labor. Everything just seemed different all of a sudden, more simple. I felt a little pressure lift off my shoulders. Because without electricity its hard to feel burdened with projects that need to be finished. Without lights to see by, it's hard to make myself feel bad because I didn't get a million things done in one night. They aren't sure exactly when the power will be fully restored to everyone. There are still about 200,000 people without it. The list in the paper says that Hospitals, Fire and Police Stations, People with medical needs, 50 of the 154 schools in town, industrial and commercial businesses (with critical needs) will all be in line in front of residential homes and businesses in getting their power turned back on. They say it could be 10-14 days before it's completely restored. So, I may be singing a different tune after 2 weeks with no electricity, but right now I'm trying to remember that life can and still does go on even when the lights go out! I pray that God would show me what I have taken for granted through this and that I might have a better appreciation for those things. Here's my parents the other night while we played cards by candle light on their deck. Here's one of the moon.....without the glow of city lights, the moon was really bright!