Grace Amidst the Storm
By John C. Fitts
By John C. Fitts
Monday morning, September 18, the storm had passed leaving behind the lingering effects of strong winds, scattered showers and power outages everywhere. We were fortunate to miss the brunt of the storm, but that did not mean there was not a lot of work to do all week. We would be out of power for five days, as were thousands of others. Everywhere you went there were tall trees blown over by the winds with roots showing. These weren’t just tall, they were also huge in girth. Others were simply snapped in half. Our rather small Dwarf Poinciana tree was bent over and almost level to the ground. Then, in the back, a couple of Birds of Paradise trees had snapped and fallen on the fence and pushed it outward. The back yard was knee high with limbs and debris.
It took all week to clean up the debris, working a few hours a day in what became a very hot sun. With some help from the family, we had taken most of the fragile garden pots and other decor inside where it filled two rooms. There were many large, expensive items that took more than one person. Anything that didn’t look fragile or in bloom we left outside. There was nothing blooming in the pots under the pergola.
A week after the storm, we were finishing up the cleaning the debris in the back yard. With backs aching and sweat pouring down, Patty took me over to some pots and plants that were left outside. None were damaged, but one she held up to me captured our attention. It was an orchid, in full bloom. It was left outside because it was not blooming. Not only had it survived the heavy winds and rain and darkness, but it was in full bloom with beautiful blossoms.
Patty and I looked at it in wonder and thought of the myriads of acts of kindness during the storm. We had seen a video or cars snd trucks all pulling boats on the way to Houston to help with flood victims. On a local internet site scores of people were offering all kinds of help. One man who owned a truck offered to come pick up trash for free. There were others who said if you are hungry come by and eat. Another who had power offered to be a charging station for any phones, iPads, or other devices.
It was amazing to see all the love and caring during this time of heartbreak and tragedy for so many. We found that people, like the orchid, also blossom during times of crisis.
It took all week to clean up the debris, working a few hours a day in what became a very hot sun. With some help from the family, we had taken most of the fragile garden pots and other decor inside where it filled two rooms. There were many large, expensive items that took more than one person. Anything that didn’t look fragile or in bloom we left outside. There was nothing blooming in the pots under the pergola.
A week after the storm, we were finishing up the cleaning the debris in the back yard. With backs aching and sweat pouring down, Patty took me over to some pots and plants that were left outside. None were damaged, but one she held up to me captured our attention. It was an orchid, in full bloom. It was left outside because it was not blooming. Not only had it survived the heavy winds and rain and darkness, but it was in full bloom with beautiful blossoms.
Patty and I looked at it in wonder and thought of the myriads of acts of kindness during the storm. We had seen a video or cars snd trucks all pulling boats on the way to Houston to help with flood victims. On a local internet site scores of people were offering all kinds of help. One man who owned a truck offered to come pick up trash for free. There were others who said if you are hungry come by and eat. Another who had power offered to be a charging station for any phones, iPads, or other devices.
It was amazing to see all the love and caring during this time of heartbreak and tragedy for so many. We found that people, like the orchid, also blossom during times of crisis.
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