It’s Tuesday night and I have been without electricity for about four days now since Hurricane Matthew unleashed the fury of its wind and rain upon our locale.
I like so many others who have no electricity in our county and beyond, are hoping for a miracle that we probably will not get.
Due to the fact that many of the power lines are down because of fallen trees and limbs that are located in areas too difficult to reach because of water that is slowly receding, we are told that it will take about five more days before we can expect to have electricity.
As I sat in darkness with just enough light from a little lantern powered by three AA batteries to write in long hand (my preferred style of writing) the material that you are reading now, it came to my mind that there are lessons to be gleaned from the difficulties and mess that Hurricane Matthew dumped upon us. Although there are perhaps many more than what has come to my mind, I will share five.
Do Not Become Apathetic
Perhaps because we have not had a major hurricane or storm to hit our locale for quite some time, far too many of us have allowed ourselves to become apathetic. Apathy is an enemy that can induce us into a state of being unprepared or nonchalant about a catastrophe or weather related disaster that is certain to happen sooner or later. It is just a matter of time. Many of us were caught off guard with our pants hanging down when that which we feared came suddenly upon us. I have learned a valuable lesson from the devastation and inconveniences that the hurricane brought upon us. I will close this portion by paraphrasing something Jesus said in Mathew 24:44 in regards to a future cousin of Hurricane Matthew: “Be ye also ready for you do not know when such a debilitating occurrence will happen again.”
Do Not Take Comforts or Conveniences for Granted
One of the lessons that many others and I have gleaned from this hurricane is to not take our comforts or conveniences for granted.
Electricity that powers the majority of the things that have given us such ease and comfort like stoves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, televisions, computers, lights, and many other appliances and gadgets, have proven how almost indispensible it is to our lives.
As I look for substitutes or alternate ways to afford me to some degree of what electric powered appliances and devices provide, I am reminded how valuable and comforting they were to me before I lost them. I will never take electricity or any of the appliances that need it to operate for granted again. Truly you do not miss your water until your well runs dry.
The Human Spirit Can Quickly Adjust and Adapt
One of the great lessons that Hurricane Matthew taught me is that the human spirit is the most adjustable and adaptable creature that God made. Unlike any other species, man has an innate ability and capacity to adjust and adapt to almost any environment or circumstance. Like me, many if not all of you who had no electricity for the first few days after Hurricane Matthew hit found yourselves being forced to adapt and adjust. The survival instinct kicked in for many of us without lights or electricity for four days (at the time of this writing). We are hoping that our electricity will be turned on soon.
However, we have adapted, adjusted, and settled in for the long haul.
Again, using a paraphrase from the Bible found in the book of Job, many of us without lights or electricity declare, “All the days of our appointed time, we are willing to wait until our electricity returns.”
Disasters Brings Out the Best in Some and the
Worst in Others
One of the things I observed and lessons I have gleaned from Hurricane Matthew’s unprecedented ravage and complete power outage of our locale has been bittersweet. On the bitter and negative side, there were certain people who took advantage of this unfortunate time of shortages and scarcity.
Regrettably, I observed some long lines of people waiting in their cars to get gas. To my disdain, I discovered that certain places that were selling gas had resorted to the unethical and unneighborly practice of price gouging.
I was told that one particular establishment was selling gas for a whopping $5.00 a gallon. Now there is nothing wrong with making a profit if you are a merchant and I know the economic principle of supply and demand and that the scarcity of a product will automatically cause the price to rise.
However, it is a complete act of greed and insensitivity to double the price of a necessary product in the time of disaster.
I would find it difficult to patronize an establishment that employed such selfish and covetous tactics in times of trouble, when things are normal and there are others competing for my business.
Let’s leave off talking about these merchants of greed and consider some businesses and people who came through with flying colors of compassion and generosity during the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew’s devastation and black-out in our locale.
Tim and Valerie Faulk, the owners and operators of Brandi’s Banquet Hall, served free meals for a few days to many of the citizens in Newtown.
Councilman Archie Scott and his wife Se’Lisa purchased a generator to help their neighbor to have lights and basic electrical needs for herself and her son with special needs.
The Wellness Center and City of Dillon in partnership with Perdue distributed free ice for many as long as it lasted. These are just a few of the examples of people helping and coming to the aid of their neighbors without charge during the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Adversity and calamity have a way of bringing the best part out of many who otherwise would not make such selfless and sacrificial contributions of their time, talent, and money in order to help others.
Be Thankful…It Could Have Been Worse
One of the lessons that the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew helped to reinforce in me is to be thankful because things could have been a whole lot worse than what they were.
The entire state of South Carolina only had a few fatalities and Dillon County only had one that was storm related.
Given the extremity of the rain that fell and the damage it caused to bridges, dams, and roads by them cresting, washing out, or being completely destroyed, we were truly blessed that there was no great loss of life and only property damage, that unlike human lives, can be replaced.
So as we reflect back on Hurricane Matthew that brought more havoc to our area than any that I have ever witnessed in my entire life, let us do so with much thanksgiving and take with us the valuable lessons that this hurricane taught those of us who are teachable. If we do this, we will be better able to endure and cope with the next storm that is certain to happen sooner or later. It is just a matter of time.
