Nature Rages in Temperamental Beauty, Bringing out the Best in Human Nature
Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Every year all around the globe there are tragedies that bring so much sorrow and suffering to victims and yet, bring out the very best of people of all nations. Nature has its way of teaching us all lessons in humility. No one person can sit back smug in their assumption that they alone are untouchable, for all around us nature can be beautiful and deadly all in one.
Then came the trucks-convoys stretching for miles and miles down the interstate highways-coming from all directions, as far away as Florida and Michigan. My arms covered with goose bumps as I watched an old man smile a toothless smile and a single tear rolled down his cheek as he watched the huge Electrical Power company trucks rolling past the only store in town that was open, running on generator power. We watched from the store window and thanked God for these men who had left their families to help these states in distress. Many, if not all, are still here working in Arkansas after two weeks and we had less damage than Kentucky.
Power had quickly been restored to the towns where businesses had to open to supply everyone with everyday necessities, but rural power restoration was quite a bit more time consuming. Due to the tremendous amount of tree and power line/pole damage out in the more rural areas, the work will probably continue for weeks to come.
Churches and community centers have been cooking hot meals for these working men who have come to our communities, working 17-hour days, to restore our power. Last night my 9 th grader granddaughter and her class cooked a huge spaghetti supper for the men at her school and they all had a wonderful time. Many of the schools are passing out emergency meal kits to families that have no power and may be struggling along with a small generator to keep lights and water so that they can at least stay in their homes.
The first day of no power, there was only one service station in town selling gasoline. Most small generators run on gasoline and although the lines of cars seemed endless, as we waited in line to fill our van, I saw many people smile and happily allow others, who only wanted to fill a can for their generator, cut in line. It isn't often you see people show compassion and generosity toward others. But great tragedies seem to have that effect. Even the staunchest of hard hearts can most often be softened in the face of group hardships.
As we continue trudging through the cleanup of this ice storm, I read in the paper that a tornado has just last evening struck the small town of Lone Grove, Oklahoma and once again nature has shown us her savage side. Eight people were killed and several injured, as the twister swept through a mobile home park that had no storm shelter near. In Lone Grove one resident was quoted as saying, "thirty of us--friends, family, and neighbors crowded into a 6 by 6 underground cellar." This off-season tornado apparently caught everyone off guard, although, February has been known to spawn tornadoes in Oklahoma---some 44 since 1950.
Some people still in shock came out to help dig through the rubble, searching for survivors of this devastating storm. I pray for them as I stand in my back door and watch the Power Company finally set our new electric poles and tonight we may have power again. And I think about God in all his infinite wisdom and power, He tests our strengths, gives us our burdens to bear; but not more than we can handle as long as we trust in Him to help us through.
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Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA published by American Book Publishing. Sandra loves to write about people and if you enjoy reading about people, you will love these books. Her first two novels are historical/adventure/fiction of early 1900's America. Sandra also writes book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures (no charge for reviews). Visit her website for more information on her books that are in print now and reviews she has written.
http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Sandra, your grandchildren are so blessed to have you tell them stories. You are a beautiful storyteller. I went along with you to each family and location and saw the devastation and smiles, the tears and compassion, the sharing and caring. I saw the power trucks pulling in from Florida and Michigan and your new power poles going up. I actually smelled the spaghetti because it's what I had for dinner. *warm smile*
Well, SearchWarp is blessed to have you, as well. I join you in prayer for those in need. The title of this article is a homerun! I agree with you. Thank you.
Blessings,
AvisThanks so much, Avis. I appreciate your reading and commenting.Have a good week and God Bless you all.Sandra
Great story Sandra. I pray that all is well with you, your family and friends, and your community!It appears that everything is gradually getting back to normal. Almost all power has been restored and cleanup is beginning to show much improvement. Hopefully by early summer things will look almost normal.Thanks for reading and commenting.SandraThat's good news to hear. I'm glad to hear you and your family are alright :-)
Thank you so much for sharing. it is so good to hear of the help you are recieving.Thanks so much. No help from FEMA, though---unless you want to count the emergency food they were handing out that had contaminated peanuts!Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
hi sandra,i love to observe or hear stories like the one you just told. not because of other's pain and hardship, but to know that humanity still remains. there's a different feeling amonst people, i think, since more and more are experiencing the same things, rich and poor. i watched larry king last night with the pilot of the plane he had to land in the hudson river after birds destroyed both engines. in this situation, as well, people were helping others, and all 155 passengers survived. i guess the human race had to be brought to it's knees before it woke up and realized we are all one, and we all need to help, not hurt, each other.thanks for sharing,best regards,sue thomIt is true, Sue. I see it so often, as I'm sure everyone has--how people change when a major tragedy strikes. It is heartwarming to see how so many people show so much compassion.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Sandra, I echo what Avis said, it is good to know you are getting help, and my prayers are with all of you folks out that way...it's been a nasty year for disasters that is for sure, I just praise God that you are okay....(the spagetti does smell good, God be with you and bless you. I love reading your articles, and you do an excellent job in painting a picture for all of us.....Your friend in pen.....GaryThanks so much, Gary. Everyone's support and prayers have meant so much to all of us. Now I'm praying for the people in the harder hit states such as Kentucky and further East.Have a good week-end.Sandra
Sandra,I thank God that we can put aside our differences in times of need and help each other through difficult days and weeks. It is a testament to the goodness of man helping man.Thank you for your meaningful thoughts on these harsh experiences that test all involved.(I trust your power has been restored.)NancyYes, thank you, Nancy. My power has finally been restored, but we still have neighbors that don't have. Today my church cooked lunch for the powerline workers from out of town/state. There have been different churches and farm families cook lunch for the men all week at a little store/restaruant near our house. The men said when they finished up in our area, they had to head for Kentucky--which is in much worse shape than Arkansas.Sandra
Hi Sandra, I have often envied your lifestyle from your articles, but I surely didn't envy you that ice storm or the tornadoes. I'm thankful that your area was spared the tornadoes. I was concerned about that squall line even here but much of the harshness missed us to the north. Good articleThanks, Joel. We have a weather radio that we keep on at all times in preparation of tornados. We've been lucky, but you never know.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
As usual excellent article. God bless you...Thanks so much, Candles, for reading and commenting.Have a good week.Sandra
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