Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Where Were You?


Here I am, toting bags laden with mail for our branch offices. As I'm putting them into the various bins in the warehouse, a radio sports commentator says something unusual. "The building is shaking. What's going on? I don't like this." Hmm, California must be having another earthquake. I hope it isn't serious.

When I return to the office, everyone is buzzing about the tremors. A couple of people say they felt it, but most of us didn't. I'm shocked. An earthquake? Here?

Whether an earthquake is literal or figurative, it rocks our world. Everything that was stable suddenly becomes unsteady and unpredictable. We're more aware than ever of the fragility of life.

My late husband's favorite painting was a bird sheltered in the cleft of a rock. A storm raged all around it, but it was safe and calm. In the midst of uncertain times, I'm grateful my trust is in The Rock, Jesus Christ.

If you live in one of the states that experienced the earthquake or tremors, please share what you were doing and how/if it impacted you.

22 comments:

quietspirit said...

Susan:
I didn't feel anything. They did 20 miles north of us and 20 miles south of us and in Indy.
I heard that picture described in "Our Daily Bread";the writer used it to give a description of peace.

JD said...

During the earthquake, I was outside with my children, playing tag and pushing them on the swings. We didn't feel a thing. I first heard about it from my brother, who sent me a text message checking in. He was half an hour away at work and felt the tremors.

My first reaction was to grab my kids and check all of the rooms in the house, to make sure there wasn't any broken glass anywhere. Not a thing was out of place in my home, but emotionally I felt a little more vulnerable for my family and myself.

Talk about instant perspective and gratitude for the beauty that is life and is today!

Blessings.

Jan Cline said...

Hi Susan, I wasnt anywhere near this particular quake, but I remember being in one in California years ago. It was a 7.4 and shook us up and nearly ruined our vacation. All I could think of was there was nothing to hold on to. Everything was moving and there was no solid ground. Some lessons there - nothing in this world can keep you stable. Only God can.
Blessings

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. I heard about it .. fortunately it doesn't seem to have done much damage .. and some heard/felt it .. others nothing ..

I wonder if the animals and insects reacted differently before it happened?

Glad you're ok though .. cheers Hilary

Marja Verschoor-Meijers said...

I read about it in the news. When in California I experienced some, of course. The one in December 2003 really, really scared me. The whole earth gave way, like someone pulled up the rug, I became seasick and it seemed to last the longest time (12 secs.)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Quiet Spirit - I didn't realize it was felt in the Midwest.

Hi Janette - We sometimes think we're immune to things like earthquakes. When we realize it can happen here, it's a wake-up call.

Hi Jan - Amen! It also gives us greater compassion for those experiencing more serious events.

Hi Hilary - I heard on the local news that one guy's dog started howling a few minutes before the tremors occurred.

Hi Marja - I can only imagine how frightening that must have been. I hope we never see anything of that magnitude here.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Wendy Paine Miller said...

My computer chair rattled. I thought one of my children was under me shaking it. Twitter actually gave me the reason.

And I was calm about it. I tend to be in the big things. Oddly enough the little things can shake me up sometimes (things like words and small hurts). Have a lot to grow in that area.
~ Wendy

Karen Lange said...

We didn't feel anything here in north central KY, but family in NJ did. They said it was really strange. I tried to call them shortly after it happened and couldn't get through. Thankfully they were fine and there were no damage or injuries where they are.
It really does make you think about where our security lies.
Blessings,
Karen

Jessica Nelson said...

Not a thing in FL.

Unknown said...

Great post, Susan! Love your statement of faith: "In the midst of uncertain times, I'm grateful my trust is in The Rock, Jesus Christ." He's the only One we can depend on 24/7! Have a blessed week, resting in Him!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Wendy - Ah, those little foxes do spoil the vine. We can often handle the big stuff, but fall apart with the little things.

Hi Karen - Glad your family is OK.

Hi Jess - The furthest south I've heard it go was NC. (I have family there too, but they're OK.)

Hi Maria - Yup! That's the bottom line.

Blessings,
Susan :)

North Jersey Christian Writers Group said...

Hi Susan!
Here in NJ, lots of folks felt the rumble, but not me. I heard about it from my daughter who heard about it from facebook.

I know the picture you mentioned. I believe it was the winner in a contest in England years ago. The contest was to paint "peace." Many entrants showed rolling hills or tranquil vistas, but the winner was the one that was calm - peacefilled - in the midst of the storm. One of my favorite illustrations of true peace. I have tried to find the picture online, with no success. I'd love to see your picture. Maybe next time we get together?

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Susan -

I don't have the picture, but have seen it online and in various periodicals over the years.

It was great seeing you again at Philly. I'm glad we were able to spend some time together.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Anonymous said...

It is so true, God is our Rock always, even when the earth is literally shaking beneath us! No earthquake here north of the equator, but I do like to read other's stories of their experience.

quietspirit said...

Susan R: Could you take a picture of that picture for us and post it here? I've never seen it but always think of it when I think of peace.

DenaNetherton said...

Hi Susan, I grew up in northern California close to the San Andreas fault and woke up several times to my bed walking around the room. Another time it make a huge pine tree come down on top of our porch. Earthquakes always remind me of how much greater God is even than the floods or earthquakes or hurricanes!

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

Susan,
I don't live where the recent quake took place, but I've been in two earthquakes. One literally shook the house so much that it woke my kids and they came running into my room. Not fun.

Kathi

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Lynn - I also like to read the experiences of others. Perhaps that's why I enjoy biographies.

Hi Quiet Spirit - I don't have the picture, but I'll try to find it if I have some free time.

Hi Dena - Yes, God's power is far greater than anything we can imagine.

Hi Kathi - I've never been through an earthquake where the building actually moved, but I've experienced hurricanes and blizzards. They're not fun either.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

We've been too busy watching Irene---:D
So glad all of your are safe. I started praying as soon as I saw the news.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Katt -

You wouldn't believe how people are going crazy here. You can't find a flashlight battery and bottled water is flying off the shelves.

On the news, they showed an evacuation from the shore area. They had to call the police because people were fighting for a seat on a bus.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Kathleen said...

Living on the West Coast, we've had a few quakes over the course of my lifetime. The worst was in 1964, and I was a H.S. student. It scared the bananas out of me, and wrecked lots of havoc. What a weird sensation to feel the earth heaving & sighing!

I am ever humbled by the power of nature; ever reminded, too, of God's great power.

I am so grateful that these recent quakes have left so few injured, and so little damage.

Blessings,
Kathleen

P.S. I experienced a quake of a different sort in the late 80s. It sought to rob my soul of hope, and I can testify to God's sustaining grace! The anchor held. It holds still.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Kathleen -

That must have been so frightening! I'm glad you're still here to tell about it.

Blessings,
Susan :)