Flood Zone

God sweetly answered our prayers for fair weather. Then about a week later He tested our faith. The dread rose again in my stomach because the water had continued to slowly run over the edge of the pond, increasing the size of the puddles around the yard and adding to the sogginess of the overflow from the swimming pool.

The gutter men had still not replaced the downspouts and eaves troughs when the rain did come. Threats of the Mississippi River overflowing and warnings of our Reservoir flooding came over our little weather radio. So it was with much prayer that I went to bed that night.

You can soak the walls of a place with prayers, and because of our necessity, our bedroom had taken on the warmth and comfort of a sanctuary. Thus I unplugged the weather radio, ignored the uncertainty in my brain, and tuned in instead to the peace that passes all understanding that I was beginning to recognize in my heart. All that night it poured, and we survived it.

We already had matches, candles, oil lamps and flashlights in use, because the power had been off since the tornado. Lack of power does not bother us much, but especially Maggie and I do not appreciate no running water. It is amazing how many times you go to use water in the kitchen. Having none come out the faucet makes you very grateful when you do have it.

Indeed the water had gone off, which left our little street in the special predicament particular to our five families who share a community well. The well pump goes off when the power goes off.

Shades of Katrina. We knew what to do. Dip swimming pool water in buckets for flushing the toilets and settle for rustic bathings and shampooing in salt pool water. At least we had our gas range for cooking.

He gives and takes away, Blessed be His Name. And when He takes away, He is not so much concerned with giving back as He is with befriending us in the midst of the deprivation.