(ThyBlackMan.com) There are times, as a person that lives with chronic illness, that I wonder if God really answers prayer. When we see all the pain, suffering, and evil in the world it’s not hard to question the position of God in the mist of it all. The environment is out of balance, and the storms that rage are beyond belief. This is another space whereby one can wonder why the commander of the sky is not setting balance to planet. Will he allow us to perish under the wrath of nature? It is in those moments that I am reminded of the hand man had to play in all of this environmental confusion. We live on such a beautiful planet…yet we take it for granted and make decisions that destroy this great gift of a planet.
We, as people, have a tendency to create situations that can kill us, but play the victim once the destruction is at our front door. We tend to believe we know what’s best in situations where we truly need counsel and should seek wisdom. Even when a way is made for us to avoid the destruction, we had a hand in creating sometimes we lean towards doing things our way, and hell literally breaks loose. Lack of preparedness in conjunction with a hard head is never a good combination. I was reminded of grace as my city faces what could have destroyed us in hurricane Barry.
As a Native New Orleanian in her late 30’s I’ve seen many hurricanes in my lifetime. Granted Katrina, to date, is the store that was most terrifying, and traumatic for me. when my mind is allowed to think back to that time my anxiety, depression, and anger tends to surface in a way by which I am often times unable to function. That storm taught me, personally, about the sins of man. Not in a manner of looking at the culture of the city, but the negligence at the hands of those in power. For as much as Hurricane Katrina was a dangerous storm, the storm simply exploited the work that had never been done to prepare for a storm of this magnitude. Too much had been taken for granted and like me many lost everything including loved ones. After that storm I promised myself that I would do my best to be better prepared not only for hurricane season, but for life. I wanted to get closer to God in a real sense verse simply blaming him for all my troubles and expecting him to fix everything while I offered next to nothing.
This past week I found myself battling with my illness as hurricane Barry was approaching. The city had already begun to flood in several areas, and there was no way I was going to be able to evacuate. Many in New Orleans, and other cities across Louisiana, prepared to weather the storm. However, there was a threat looming that could strike fear into the heart of any native New Orleanian that had ever been told stories about the mighty Mississippi that runs through our city. The river was already high, and there as a chance that the amount of heavy rainfall could cause it to overflow. It may have just been news to others around the country, but it was a silent terror to New Orleans. Many began to pray, mediate, and focus on whatever faith they practiced. For one many people followed the instructions that were given as the storm approached; many people actually prepared instead of blowing the storm off.
We watched the rain fall, streets flood, and we watch the news as the storm moved west. The direction kept moving west, and we didn’t see the magnitude of rain forecasted. The river stayed inside of its banks, and the city was spared. To some it was just a matter of nature and science as the city of New Orleans, and many places in Louisiana, was spared. However, some of us will say this was God’s grace and mercy. For once many of us did what we were instructed, prayed and weathered the storm with some sense of peace. The weekend restored my faith that God does still answer prayer. We shall keep praying as hurricane season just started…there very well may be more storms to weather, but for now many feel grateful and blessed.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.