Powhatan Mennonite Church

P.O. Box 220, 3540 Old Buckingham Rd. 

  Powhatan, Virginia  23139-0220

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Isabel

Quinton, Virginia

Thursday - September 18, 2003

        Day is dawning. Clouds are coming. Father off to work. Mother busy. Washer running. Dryer rolling. Dampness in the air. Children sleeping. Extra canned goods line the shelf. Fuel tanks full. Generator tested. Outdoor items are secured. Oatmeal cookies mixed. House is getting cleaned.

        Cookies baking. Pick up clutter. Sweep the floor. Isabel is coming. Children waking. Children playing. School called off today. Children helping. Busy little hands. "Fill the water jugs please!" Oil lamps made ready. Candlesticks near by. "Get the matches too." Sparkle-eyes the kitty cat comes in. "Daddy said call Gramma while we can."

        Rain is starting. Barometer changing. Lights are blinking. Cookies cooling. Oven off. Sudden darkness. "Hey, the lights went out!" "Yes, Isabel is coming! Ready or not!" "I think Isabel is here!" House is still. House is quiet. Outside the wind begins to rise. Rain now pelting. Whirlwinds whip the leaves. "Call Gramma please."

        Father’s footsteps. Hear them coming? "Yeh, Daddy’s home!" Hugs and kisses. Thank you Lord. Now all are safe within. "I wish Gramma would have come."

        Uninvited. Here she is. Full of fury. Full of force. Shivering. Shaking. Land almost quaking. Moments creep. The storm increases. Rain is pounding. Wind is piercing. Isabel is here.

        Mother uneasy. Father pacing. Are they trusting God? Wind and rain keep coming hard. Kitty curls up on sister’s bed. Children playing. Sister reads to little brother. "Hey Dad, how about a game of chess?" Then Mother reads out loud above the roaring storm.

        Trees a-swaying. Leaves a-blowing. Branches breaking. Brush is bending. Bushes bend like humble hearts in prayer. And as our heavenly Father cares for us, Father keeps watch at the front door, "In all my life I have never seen a storm like this one."

        Wind is whistling. Windows creak. Rain keeps driving hard. Trees are twisting. Trees are turning. Weather churning. A darkened landscape fills our world. But the house on the Rock stands firm.

        A sound is heard above the gale "Hey, everybody, did you hear that? Did you hear that? A big tree just crashed." Running feet from all directions scamper on the back porch. Five pairs of eyes peer in the darkness. One proud giant felled. Right beside the truck. Five pairs of feet dart back inside. Thankful hearts for His protective Hand! "Hi Gramma! A big tree just crashed in our yard. We’re all fine. Are you o.k.?" Gramma says her trees are swaying like toothpicks....Hold us fast. Let us stand in the hollow of Thy hand. Keep us safe ‘till the storm passes by.

        Shifting shadows all around. Father braves the storm. Hear the generator humming? Five thousand watts of power. Father dripping. Soaking wet. Some breakers on. Some breakers off. The lights come on!

        Wind keeps howling like a winter storm. Blowing, blowing in the air. Water, water everywhere. We all shall stay downstairs tonight. Late is the hour. The humming stops. Lights go out. Son by son lay on the bed. Father on the couch. Mother and daughter recline side by side. Exhausted. Prayers are said. Lord, teach us to number our days.

        Isabel moves slowly on. The rain lets up. The wind dies down. Our tired eyelids finally close. The world is wet and wild out there. Our world is dark but quiet now. Mother and daughter still. "Is that crickets we hear?" "Yes. But let us get more rest, my dear! Old Isabel is gone."

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Friday - September 19, 2003

        Day is dawning.  Sun is bright.  Wispy clouds float by.  The scent of rain still in the air.  A family awakes.

        Yard is littered.  What a mess!  School called off today.  "Dad, do you see that tree leaning in the front yard?"  Father off to check. Chainsaw buzzing. Tree collapsing to the ground. Generator humming.  Sausage sizzling.  Bread toasting.  Eggs a-frying.  Cold milk.  "Breakfast time!" A prayer of thanks is said.

        Then we all survey the land.  Up the road.  Down the street.  And all across the way.  Old Isabel sure caused confusion.  Her power now gone. And so is ours!  The lines a tangled mess.  Yes, we're off the grid.

        More chainsaws buzzing. Neighbors checking. Friends are calling.  "How are you?"  "Praise the Lord you all are fine.  Bye. Bye. I love you too." Lots of work to do. Tried Gramma too. Line's dead. "I sure hope she is O.K."

        Children playing.  Children working.  Mom and Dad are working too.  Limbs and leaves to drag into the woods. Huge logs to move.  Busy chainsaws.  Busy axe.  Sometimes laborers are few. But when all are helping the load is lighter. Busy family.  Ahh, playtime now. Bike tires turning. Bare feet splashing.  Bouncing children on tree stump roots. A soft breeze blows among  the trees. Sweaty, dirty clothes lie on the porch.

        All the while a generator hums.  Soup for lunch.  Soup for supper. "Any oatmeal cookies left?"  "I heard a man was killed in New Kent."  "We won't have electric power for a long time."  "Well, no school for us!"  "My, how did the floor get so dirty already?"

        Evening falls.  The day is done.  Shifting shadows have begun.  Cold showers ain't no fun.  Into bed one by one.  Late is the hour.  The humming stops.  Lights go out.  Prayers are said.  Son by son lay on their bed.  Father and mother across the hall.  Daughter reclines alone below.

        A soft wind blows across the pane.  Windows opened.  There is no rain.   And the starry show in the heavens above is incredible!  God's magnificent creation is on display.  See the Milky Way?  No other lights to interfere. Lord, tonight Your world sparkles like beautiful diamonds.

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Saturday - September 20, 2003

        Day is dawning.  The sun rises above the trees. Father off to work outside.  Mother busy too.  Breakfast done.  Old clothes donned for work that day.  Tools loaded.  Water drawn.  Lunch packed. "I'll take the pork rinds to Gramma."  "Don't forget your work gloves!"  Father and children off to see about Gramma.  Old Izzy got her too!

        All morning the generator hums.  Washer rolling.  Dryer still.  Solar power works today!  Oh, all those muddy pants and socks. They simply seem to multiply!  No time to fuss.  No time to waste. Just get it done.  And work with haste. Mom's shift begins at three. A spit bath has to do.

        Father driving.  Children riding. An hour in the Chevy.  To Gramma's house they go. Over the rivers. Through the trees. Past broken poles and busted transformers. Flooded streets. Wires down all over.  Destruction everywhere.  What a gigantic mess!  A devastating scene.

        Gramma's safe. Her house is fine.  Trees and branches fill the yard.  Father saws. Children work. Gramma helps them too. Then open tuna for lunch.  Well, a pocketknife will have to do!  A good day's work.  A huge pile of limbs lies by the street.

        Time to find some supper.  But where?  Most stores closed. Shelves are bare. "A can opener for $6.95!"  Fast food it must be.

        One Suburban home at last.  Evening falls.  Day is done. Generator now humming.  Lights pop on. All are tired. Tired.  Children lie down to rest.  Prayers are said. The humming stops.  The lights go out. Night envelops fast.

        The clock strikes midnight in the Old Dominion.  A Dodge Ram drives up the lane.  Mother's home. Motor off. Light beams fade away. The path is very dark. But, oh the star that fill the sky!  See them blinking from afar?  And how about brilliant Mars. Stepping gingerly in the house.  Darkness everywhere.  Familiar objects felt by hand. Father hears and brings a flashlight. "Thank you, dear!" Then quiet conversation fills the air.  Isabel has come and gone but no one can forget that night. "They should have called her Jezebel!"  "Isabel it will always be.  But she is a queen, queen of hurricanes!"

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Sunday - September 21, 2003

        Day is dawning.  Air is cool.  Sun rises once again.  Family sleeps awhile.  Parents up. Going slowly.  Yawning youngsters start to stir. "We must get up.  It's Sunday!"

        House now a buzz. Getting ready for the service.  "They have electric on Creighton Road."

        Grateful Christians gather.  Worshipping with joy. Thankful for His Almighty Hand and His protection through the storm. Jesus is always near!  We meditate upon His care. Songs are sung.  Prayers are said. Yes, "...He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock. He hideth my life in the depths of His love and covers me there with His Hand. He covers me there with His Hand!"

        Fast food for lunch. Soup is getting old.  Mother will cook tomorrow. But only one burner and no oven makes it hard.

        Father reads the paper. The Lancaster Farmer too.  Children out to play.  Mother off to work. Sick patients need her care.

        Evening falls.  The day is done. Generator humming.  Lights pop on.  The family reads and chats. Mother calls.  Then time for bed.  Tomorrow is another day. Off to bed one by one.  The humming stops.  The lights go out.  Prayers are said. Sweet rest has come at last.

        Another day is coming as mother reaches home.  The clear starry sky speaks calm and peace.  A darkened house will greet her.  Gingerly she steps in.  Familiar objects felt by hand. Sure wish the other flashlight wasn't lost. Up the creaking steps she goes and tumbles into bed.  Home is a refuge from the storm. And a place of quiet rest. Now sweet rest has come. Sweet rest at last.

Psalms 36: 5-7

Your loving kindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens,

Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

Your judgments are like the great deep.

O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

How precious is Your loving kindness, O God!

And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net