I’ve felt this fear before.
It’s hard to tell if it is the fear of the people,
or the voice of my soul forewarning of impending disaster.
The force of the storm grows in intensity
and the level of fear rises right along with it.
Cars stacked along the highway waiting for pumps…
that no longer pump.
No fuel for those who waited,
no bottled water to be found for miles.
Hard to prepare when
everybody prepares at once.
I know better now how to handle my energy
so I stay calm and plan to weather the storm
holed up in my little condo,
knowing the sounds
and the windows breathing…
in and out…
will wear down my patience
to the point that I just can’t take
one minute longer!
But before that can happen
Matthew jogs west
and the order for
a mandatory evacuation
is issued.
But where can we go?
Fear rises in my throat
and I immediately question
my decision to stay calm for so long!
Did my newfound sense of peace and love
leave me stranded and completely
unprepared
in the face of
a Cat 4 Hurricane?
PROVIDENCE
Hello my friends. It’s hard for me to write this as I watch the news and see how Haiti was obliterated by Hurricane Matthew. He is moving up the coast and destroying all he comes in contact with. I don’t know how these things are decided, a little jog to the east or west and some are spared…and some are not!
I have many feelings to deal with. We waited so long to evacuate, it was almost too late. You stay glued to the television watching a monster of a storm slowly get closer. You look outside and it seems surreal because “The calm before the storm” doesn’t give you any indication of the fury that is about to be unleashed.
I am full of BLESSITUDE. My family and friends all survived with minimal damage. The storm took a little turn to the east which kept the eye wall from making landfall on us. So many others were not as blessed and it makes me cry, huge tears from my heart. It hurts so much I don’t know where to place these feelings.
Friday was a fog. My body moved as I put my home back together. When you evacuate and you look at what to pack you get a better sense of what is important to you. The rest you leave behind and your mind works overtime as you try to secure them in ways that they might be protected, all the while trying to ignore the thought that a Cat 4 making a direct hit this close to the ocean I love, could mean there would be NOTHING LEFT!
I gently returned each belonging to its proper place as tears full of prayers dropped for those who did not have the same outcome.
Blessitude!
Lorrie <3
10/09/16
I’m happy to read that you are okay and recovering. What a weekend for the coast. Sending prayers of comfort. 💕
Thank you so much MichelleMarie! It was a monster storm…so much fury. Blessings to you <3
Simple gratitude is also a force to be reckoned with!
I love the way you think, Dennis! ♡
So glad you are well and on this side of the storm! Peace!
Thank you Dennis. I will be looking for that peace ♡
I’m happy, that you are okay and sad for the many, who are not.
Thank you Irene! Yes…so many people will struggle with the effects from this storm for a long time. Thank you for your compassion, and for your support ♡
Glad that you are safe. My heart goes out to people of Haiti. They never really recovered from the Earthquake now this. Sending my prayers to all.
I know DeBorah! I saw a gut wrenching video on the news this morning. So sad. They are stranded on an island and don’t have the means to evacuate!! Blessings to you ♡
I thank God you are safe. My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. God bless.
And my heart goes right back to you!! Thank you…blessings ♡
A huge tragedy for Haiti, no doubt, and (one hesitates to say) to a lesser extent, North Carolina too.
Your empathy is a very beautiful thing, nonetheless, dear Lorrie. H <3
Hi Hariod, thank you ♡ Yes, I just saw the new death toll in NC…it is so very sad. Some might wonder how it is possible given the fact that there is so much warning. Having been one who waited until it was almost too late, I wish I could give an answer that would make sense. Hope all is well with you…lots of love ♡
thank God for every mercy..vw
Amen! Amen!! Blessings to you ♡
Sending you and yours many blessings and glad to hear you got through alright.
Thank you for your compassion. And I return beautiful blessings back to you!
What strikes me is your compassionate heart Lorrie. I’m grateful that you and friends survived with little damage, and also sad that so much damage was caused along Mathew’s path. I can’t help but feel these storms are getting worse and a sign of changing climate. I hope I’m wrong. Prayers to you and the many affected.
Ah! Brad. I wish we had an answer for that. This storm has broken many records…one of which being the length of time the storm stayed in Hurricane status. Thank you for commenting and for your ever present support…I appreciate you ♡
And I appreciate you Lorrie. Hugs.. <3
♡
Hi Lorrie, beautifully written, in these time have no TV so it cannot slow me down to follow intuition. I do see snippets of stories on facebook which I try to avoid. I have to keep focused on what I must do for myself and in prayer to help those I must. It is not climate change causing all of this it the result of what everyone has done to the Earth that has created these huge cleansings. It is easy to blame the climate than oneself for all of this. We have been warn for so many years about these times and we have prayed for them. I know those who will be safe and those who will not. We have to focus on our role here on Earth. Soul Love to All who are looking for guidance and inspiration.
“Soul love to All!” Amen! Yes, I don’t really know much about the role of climate change vs. our role…I suppose one could argue that we are responsible for the climate change in the ways we have abused our Mother Earth. I do know that the energy of FEAR is very powerful…and when something this huge is about to happen the fear of the people is so strong. And I believe that where there is love there can not be fear…but it was certainly challenging to stay in that love energy as the fear was almost suffocating! Thank you so much for adding your energy here. Many blessings to you!
Fear is suffocating in times like this. People project this fear out as they internally suffocate. It is challenging to keep your head above the surface. I find I have to withdraw from the world to balance. Good to be connected to you. Bless you so much
Amen!! And thank you 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend ♡
Lorrie, the line that really struck me was ” I know better now how to handle my energy”. That is an excellent way to view things. Glad you are o.k.
Ah…thanks, Kim! It was a scary proposition that because I handled it so well in the beginning I almost waited too late. And it was indeed Divine that I got the hotel room when I did! Blessings!
Wow, thank you for sharing. It is so interesting for me to read because I’ve never dealt with this kind of natural disaster in my area. I’m so glad you’re okay, but at the same time very sad for the people whose homes were hit.
Hi KathrinS…and welcome! It can be almost surreal with this kind of disaster. The calm before the storm doesn’t give you any reason to believe what will soon be. All we had was a TV showing the radar of the massive storm…and they do the best they can to project where it will hit…but they never KNOW. I think about the people in Haiti and I wonder if they even have television to warn them. Anyway…sorry to be a downer. I’m happy you stopped by and hope you look around and find happier posts 😉
Wow, must be extremely scary. I can’t even imagine the fear you must go through, worrying that your home will be destroyed!
I will definitely have another look at your blog! If you ever have some time, feel free to check out my new writing blog – I just set it up recently.
I am so glad you made it out and through, where are you located? It was a nasty storm and I cry for Haiti and anyone else lost or who have nothing to return to. Peace and blessings from the gulf side of Florida.
I cry with you! I’m just north of West Palm and it sure looked like it was heading directly toward us. You never know…and I’m sure you understand being you are on the Gulf side! Many blessings to you also…counting down the days left in the season 😉
I hear you Lorrie, this is our first time with this weather element…not regretting the move. Back North we always joked about snow melting, flooding was never a concern. Now down here, it’s wind, rain,flooding,etc….I say my prayers and feel so very blessed. Peace and love, Kim
I truly believe it is “paradise,” Kim. I guess every area has some burden to bear. I walk out my door every day and I’m thankful to live in such a beautiful place. It’s amazing how “not” beautiful it is during a storm! Blessings to you…if this is your first “winter” you are going to LOVE IT!! 😉
First winter, we came down for Christmas last year, two weeks, 85 every day and we sat outside, as we do even in summer on the lanai with the fan on….Buffalo transplants….I think everyone holes up inside summer here….not us…we enjoy Every minute, rain or otherwise😊☀️🌴
I so completely understand 🙂 ♡
So glad you’re safe!
Thanks so much Ms. Vee!! I am BLESSITUDE ♡
You’re welcome. Blessings and peace☺✌🌺✌
I was thinking of you Lorrie so much on Thursday and praying for you and others on the east coast. I am happy to learn you were spared from the worst. It is heartbreaking how much this storm destroyed, particularly in Haiti and along our coasts. My son’s family and in laws had to evacuate from North Florida and they are just now driving back home to see how everything is. We are hoping for the best. Sending you much love dear friend💖
Oh…Helen! I am sending prayers for them. The feeling of driving back not knowing what you will find is so stressful! Thank you for your good thoughts…I know that that kind of energy helps…it really does…and I appreciate it so much. Have a wonderful week full of light and love ♡♡
There was so much emotion in this, I couldn’t comment right away. I’ve been through the eye of a typhoon. Scary when there is no where to evacuate to. Taiwan was better equipped 40 years ago than Haiti is today. My heart goes out to them. They have been so let down by their own government but that’s another story. I’ve been evacuated by fire and fortunately, was able to come home to my house still standing. Your feelings here were palpable. I’m glad you are ok and sorry you had to go through this.
Oh, Marlene. I am so grateful that I have learned that I NEED to write to be able to process this life! I share my journey here, and I appreciate you so much for coming back to leave a loving comment after my emotions brought up something in you. When I started my blog I had no idea what it would be or how I would write. Over time it has morphed and the one true constant is that whatever appears here will ALWAYS be a true representation of me and how I think/feel. So thank you for caring enough to come back and connect with me ♡♡ And I am so happy that you, too, were able to return to your home still intact. What a frightening experience that must have been! Have a super wonderful week ahead, dear friend ♡♡
So glad you are okay. It was a very tough week for so many. I am up north, but my mother and other relatives are in Florida. Thankfully, they too, are okay.
So happy to hear your family is fine, Lorrie!! This storm wreaked so much havoc…and even if it didn’t cause much property damage, the stakes were very high for psyche of those who were in his path. Sending loving thoughts! Thank you for your support! ♡
Relieved to read that you and your family escaped unharmed – many blessings and prayers answered.
Thank you, Mary! As the days go by and we see how destructive Matthew was, we are so Blessed and full of gratitude…BLESSITUDE! ♡♡
This certainly puts things in perspective as I wait for the electricity to come back on: Nothing to complain about. I’m thankful you and your family are okay. And I’m thankful for candlelight.
Ah! JoAnna…I have been thinking of you and praying for you! I’m happy to hear you are fine, though I know how shocking it is when you are suddenly thrust into darkness…and how many things we take for granted that are run on electricity. Please be very aware, dear friend, of your use of candles. Sending lots of love and light (no pun intended 😉 ) ♡♡
<3
Hi Lorrie, I am also thankful that you and your loved ones are well. This is such a great post – almost as if it were written in real time – and I would imagine experiencing this sort of threat must feel very, very REAL TIME. It also reminds us how humbling the power of nature can be. Stay well and I am glad to hear you are fine. Your friend who would always offer you refuge if the world gets crazy (crazier?). Blessings, Harlon
Oh…Harlon…love that you could feel it as though it was real time. I think it was so remarkable that the feelings lasted well beyond the event. It feels nice to have such a friend, Harlon!!! One who would always offer refuge…I like it…and hope you know I offer you the same!! Much love ♡♡
Seeing the image that sure is a monster storm.
Your words are those which have come from the heart.
I am happy you are saved.
Blestitude as you say You are.
Let blessings shower on you all.
Tears of courage.
Smile of gratitude.
Voice of hope.
Shiva
Oh, Shiva! Thank you for your poetic words that directly touched my heart! Wow…I had to read them a second time and I feel even more blessed. Sending you beautiful thoughts of love and light!
My heart also ached as I watched from afar.. Haiti seems to suffer and keep on suffering. And so much loss of life.. I am thankful dear Lorrie that you were spared the brunt of the storm.. And my thoughts go out to you as you straighten up your home.. Living so near the ocean like you do would have had me worried also.. And I can only praise your Calmness as long as it held.. I am grateful you and yours were all fine..
Your poem spoke volumes of what you experienced dear Lorrie..
Love to you my friend <3 and yes you are truly blessed.. xxx
Thank you, Sue. The feelings are very strong…the death toll in the U.S. has risen and many are still without power in North Carolina. The weather events seem to be ramping up as the energy on the planet seems so volatile. I’m not completely sure how to handle what I feel…and I hated to second quess my “decision” to stay calm. There’s just so much unrest and divisiveness here (everywhere) that I have to be so aware of what I am feeding. And I have to be honest, there are issues that make me want to go back into low low LOW energies!!! That is why I am so grateful to have beautiful friends like YOU…who keep me in energies that are born of love, peace, and harmony!! Thank you, dear friend ♡♡♡
Awww what a beautiful thing to say Lorrie.. Yes I so understand how easily it is to get caught up within energies especially when you are surrounded by many volatile ones right now on many fronts within the USA. Both climate wise and political, among other issues which have hit the headlines here too in the UK..
Keeping calm and rising above such energies is not easy..
I try my best to detach as much as is possible.. But when I see so much suffering, I can not but help ‘feel’ their pain..
Last year was a hard year for me.. As I seemed to get more sensitive to everything.. A phase many are going through as our awareness and energies alter.. Learning to cope with the emotions we feel is tough..
I found I had to withdraw more and more into my own inner world.. My ‘Knowing’ told me that I needed to keep High my own energies and not feed the low.. Which you are so right in doing yourself.. The collective needs our ‘Lightheartedness’ to balance out those lower vibrations..
Which is why I spend more time in my garden to ground myself to our Earth Mother.. She speaks ever more loudly to us, yet still we have not understood.. And at times it was as if I could hear the whole worlds woes.. Which I know is exactly what you meant when you said your Feel so much unrest..
It is all coming to a boiling point.. Something I have not wanted to happen yet deep down know it has to. For we have to alter our ways of BEing.. and we are not learning to respect each other or Our Earth Mother..
Just know dear Lorrie that what is meant to be will be and that we can only keep adding our light to help illuminate those shadows which still exist
We who have been tested now know that the power of the dark can not extinguish the light.. And we all have much work still to do my friend
Keep your Light and Heart bright.. And know you are Blessed and treasured dear friend.. Love to you Lorrie I truly do treasure your friendship xxx <3
I simply can’t imagine this experience and how awful it must be in that situation… xx
Thanks Wendy…hope you never have to experience anything g like it! 😉 Have a super day!!
Thanks so much Lorrie and I hope not too.. Take care and hope you are managing to settle back to some normality now the storm has passed… xx
Yes…we are 🙂 Thank you, Wendy!
Dear Lorrie, I do understand your fear and your sadness for those who were not rescued.
I was in my home, Queensland was flooding, the Storm was raging outside, there was two inches of water right through the main living rooms of my home, the Carpeted bedrooms were wet and the water was rising outside far higher than I had ever seen it before.
They had told me to evacuate but I had no way to do this, so they said they would send a Helicopter but would not take the dogs and I could take only my personal needs, I decided to stay, how could I leave my furry friends to drown but I felt fear, so I sat and prayed.
Later looking out at the rising water, I noticed it had stopped raining, the Storm was abating, the water sinking slowly into the ground and running down drains , we were safe, I cried with Joy, we were safe! But some were not saved, they were gone, I didn’t know them personally but how frightening it must have been for them too, No escape…
This life is but a Neo- Second in Eternity, let’s be prepared, I hold onto the Scriptures below in my heart, they have comforted me greatly in the harsh Storms that life has brought to me.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you I have called you by name you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up, the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says The LORD, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you a Future and a Hope.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men.
Christian Love and many Blessings – Anne.
Hi Lorrie,
My oh my these storm and weather events bring up so many things in us. There’s just no way I can think of to try and find meaning in how a storm impacts one area and not another. If anything I think moments like this highlight the extent to which we are dependent on the environment, and one another. Still I believe everything happening can yield to grace, and that in the movement of these gripping events things are stirred up from the depths that might not otherwise have been seen. What response but Love makes sense in any situation? 🙂
Peace and Love
Michael
That response, dear Michael, will always be correct…no matter what it is responding to!! Yes, I know what you mean about it bringing up things that might never have been seen. My life is back to normal and I am so grateful, but I can’t help think daily about those who are not. There really is no way to see through this other than responding with love.
And I send much to you and best wishes that all is moving toward your goals and that there is understanding…always understanding! <3
Hi Lorrie,
During hurricane Matthew I found you on Twitter and was gladdened to know that you were/are okay. I’m touched by all your words in this post ~ and am still thinking of those who are still involved in repairing/healing from this event. I feel your beautiful heart in this post. With Peace and Gratitude for your safety,
Ka
Oh, Ka, there is such peaceful beauty in your words…thank you! It seems there is conflict everywhere…weather…politics…natural and manmade diasters. I pray that the energy of light continues to strengthen and plays a role in creating more peace in the world. I know that certain things have to happen, and many times there does not seem to be a logical way to reconcile the path of destruction. I just hope that we can establish some kind of balance.
Many blessings to you…very dear soul ♡♡
It is not Love to ignore others Lorrie it’s rude.
My sincerest apologies! I had a family emergency and could not respond to your comment at that time. And then I have to be honest and say that I forgot. But as soon as I reread your comment I remembered how touched I was by your sharing of your story!!
You must have been so frightened…and I completely understand that you did not want to leave your animals behind! You made your choice and and you prayed…and the power of prayer is incredible.
I am sorry you had to experience this…it is a very traumatic event that I am sure you will never forget. I am happy for your outcome and again, I share in the sorrow for those who did not have the same outcome.
Again, please forgive me…I was touched by your response when I first read it…and I am happy that you reminded me that I did not respond to you. Blessings dear Anne. I hope you have a beautiful week!
It is I who needs you forgiveness Lorrie, I have been very hurt by some of those I have shared with on Blogs, when they have ignored or deleted my Comments but mostly they were Cults or those deceived by them and yes I have found they can be very unloving.
To be honest I was shocked when it seemed you had did the same Lorrie because I know your a very Loving and Caring Woman, so once again please forgive me for thinking you had done it deliberately, I will be more careful in how I respond in future when it happens and with others too who I value as faithful Blogging Friends.
Blessings – Anne.
No need for you to apologize, Anne! No need at all! In fact I want to say I am sorry again. You shared such a personal story that was so traumatic and I know when I read it on my phone, I just couldn’t respond the way I wanted to. And then I know I answered people after you (again…on my phone so it didn’t show the whole page and I didn’t see your response) so it must have looked even worse to you. I’m sending beautiful white light and loving hugs. I’m so grateful that you wrote to me…if you had not then your feelings would have stayed hurt…and I would never have known!! So that is a good lesson I think!! 😉
Blessings to you ♡
Thank God you are all safe and sound <3 My little sister was in florida that week – we were quite scared, considering what we heard on the news! Glad that you are doing well – stay blessed dearest one <3 PS. I am subscribed to your blog, but I never see it in my reader? Could there be some kind of glitch..?
I’m so happy your sister survived Matthew! It must have been really scary for you waiting to hear what happened! Yes, our area was so very blessed and Matthew slowly recedes from the font of minds. I still say prayers every day for those who can’t say that.
I wish I could help you with your question about showing up in your reader…I have no idea! I feel I am lucky that I can get my posts to go live! Maybe if you unsubcribe and then subscribe again…? I wish I could help more. But it’s so nice to see you! Have a wonderful weekend ♡
haha no worries – it is okay! I was just wondering. I will unsubscribe and subscribe again <3 Bless you, it is always good and actually our responsibility to pray for all. Yeah It was very scary waiting for her. Have a blessed weekend ahead. <3