How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

This is a statement that has come up in conversation with friends after the recent tornado that came through our neighborhood nine days ago. 

It is unimaginable the amount of work to be done in the clean-up process.  Where does one begin? What is to be done first? The task as a whole may seem too big to swallow (the elephant), but taken one bite at a time it can be worked through until the whole thing is gone.

The view from my front porch has changed recently, not only pictorially but philosophically.  I’ve seen how in an instant our priorities can change.  What seemed important to us yesterday is now irrelevant.  The needs of others takes precedence over our own needs.

While the tragedy of a fatality in our area is one of the results of damage done by a mighty wind, good can be found in everything.  Neighbors who barely took the time to speak when passing before this event were working side by side that night towards a common goal.   Word of others hurt and in need of help sparked energy and efforts to clear a path through hundreds of fallen trees so that their needs could be met. 

Both at work and in my home neighborhood, I saw people who just wanted to help others - in any way that they could.  And even the smallest gestures of kindness were greatly appreciated.

We spent five days without electricity, hot water and microwave and 9 days without cell phone, landline phone, TV and internet.  But life goes on and we managed quite well.  We worked during the daylight hours ‘til our bones were weary and after dark we spent time as a family sitting on our front porch visiting with each other.  We laughed and shared stories and made memories that will grow a little wilder each time they are recited.  It felt good – it felt right.

Each of us will at some point in our lives face a storm.  Whether it is an act of nature or self-inflicted, there are still tragedies that evolve as a result.  But life goes on and we must pick up the pieces, one by one, until some semblance of order is found.  Thank goodness for true friends that are there to help us.  Maybe we are unable to see for ourselves the damage this storm has caused.  But others are there to help us design a plan enabling us to carry on.  We have gained new respect for these storms and the damage they can cause.  We’ve devised a plan to take cover when immediate danger is near.  Riding out these storms can be scary at times but the journey will make us stronger in the end. 

That night, shortly after destruction came in the form of eerie, green skies and funnel clouds, we looked upward to see a clear, star laden sky sparkling like a sea of diamonds.  The awesomeness of God’s creation and power was unmistakable. Just like the rainbow, it reminded me of one of God’s promises to us.  He will never give us more than we can handle.  So when you feel as if you are eating an elephant,pour on the seasons as best as you can and go at it one bite at a time, enduring until the end.