StopThings
One year ago today rain poured down from the skies, devouring much of the town that I live in. The water had no where to go after filling the sewers, drainage ditches and other retention areas. Some basements filled with water, others had massive sewage back-up, foundations were split and entire homes were deemed unlivable. So many people's lives were disrupted by this catastrophe; a catastrophe that the government declared an official State of Emergency. Today I share with you my reflections on the this day and these last 12 months.
I was living in a basement apartment on the north side of the town, where the worst of the storm occurred. Eight (plus) inches of rain fell there within a three-hour time frame. When the sewers could no longer handle the water, raw sewage backed up into my apartment. It entered through the bathtub, the toilet, the sink and the kitchen sink. Upon first inspection, there was about eight inches of sewage in the apartment. Later that night the level was about two inches higher, although looking at the water lines on the wall it appeared to have reached about 13 inches or so while we were gone.
My gracious family and I spent a couple of hours that night and the entire next day cleaning out the apartment. Here's what I was left with: a duffel bag of clothing, kitchen table, computer, and dishes in the upper kitchen cabinets. Everything else had to be removed and placed in the dumpster. devastating is one word that I would use to describe how this experience was to me at the time. For three days I felt like I was in a daze. I didn't know how to begin again or what to do next.
I am so very thankful to the Red Cross for their immediate assistance. They gave me a debit card with quite a bit of money to buy clothing, bedding, shoes and food; all of which I was without. In addition to the Red Cross' help, some of my internet friends put out a call for help. Donations came in totaling slightly over $400 which helped in purchasing many of our other necessities. There were lots of clothing donations and gift cards supplied by family, friends and co-workers. I must say that this was a time where I really doubted that any good still existed in this world. I learned that there really are good people out there, in fact there's a number or really great people.
Sometimes it may just have to take a disaster to bring out the good in people or open the eyes of those who are unable to see it.
After about three days of being distraught and confused, I collected myself. I decided that I couldn't keep going on in the manner that I was. Something had to change. What was I missing? That was a question that I asked myself. Besides all of the obvious material possessions, I was missing something more. I hadn't prayed at all during those three days. I didn't turn to God when I really needed him. When this realization came crashing into the forefront of my mind, I stopped what I was doing and gave it all up to the Lord. For me, this was a tremendous change. I felt lighter, as if I could handle all of this finally. If only you could imagine how this internal change made a difference for me.
Approximately 34 days after the flood occurred, I was moving into the apartment that I currently reside. Family, friends and the families of my friends donated every bit of the furniture that I currently have (with the exception to the captain's bed I bought for Jacob and my kitchen table which we saved from the sewage). The apartment I am living in is not a place that I could afford on my own. There's an individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, offered to cover half of my rent for a year. What an amazing and generous offer this was. I gladly accepted and I honestly don't know where I would be without having had this offer extended.
There have been a number of occasions over the past 12 months where I've told people about the flood. Their reactions are generally the same across the board: how terrible, I'm so sorry. Mine is a bit different than that. It's so different to where people will wonder just what plain of existence that I live on. I tell them that I'm thankful that the flood happened. I wouldn't wish for another, that's for sure, but I also wouldn't be the person that I am now were it not for that flood.
I don't have to carry all of my shit (ha!) myself.
There are people out there that rock.
Things are just things.
I pray that over the next 12 months I can learn and grow just as much, if not more. Thank you to all who have been a part of my life, be it in my physical life or otherwise.