Proper Preparation Pays Plentifully
I’ve often said, “I’m not proud I’ve learned most of my lessons the hard way – by experience.” I’d much rather learn from the experience of others!
Years ago, Lori and I returned home from a week-long trip to discover four inches of standing water in our basement. A severe rainstorm had knocked out electrical power to our neighborhood. The good news was we had a battery backup for our sump pump.[i] The bad news: the electrical switch breaker had flipped so when the electricity came back on, the regular pump couldn’t operate and eventually the heavy-duty marine battery ran out. Result: a pooled disaster awaiting our return home.
We have been privileged to travel extensively for ministry, to visit family and friends, and to see more of God’s wondrous creation. Concluding that the possibilities of electrical failure in our absence are high, we had a whole-house generator installed that automatically kicks in when power is lost. Every week it runs a check to ensure proper functioning. And since we installed it, our power grid has not failed us.
Until two weeks ago.
We were at Life in Messiah’s home office when a powerful thunderstorm rolled through our area. Straight-line winds greater than 100 miles per hour roared past our very solid building. One of the large hangars at the airport across the street lost a sizeable chunk of the roof, leaving a gaping hole. The electrical grid failed as tornados and hurricane-force winds tore through a wide area.
Driving home through flooded streets after the worst of the storm had passed was an adventure. One of the three tornados that hit the Chicago area passed within five blocks of our home. In our neighborhood, huge trees were flattened, completely blocking dozens of streets. Like finding our way out of a maze we navigated a convoluted route, finding the only possible open path to arrive home. A few houses down from our driveway a downed tree lay across our flooded street.
Arriving home we heard the sweet sound of the generator’s motor. But the garage door opener didn’t function and the house was dark. A flip of the tripped switch breaker on the generator resolved the issue and “let there be light” was our happy experience.
More importantly, the huge sections of our old silver maple tree which sheared off lay on our lawn, not on the house. The neighbors’ large tulip tree uprooted a massive part of our yard when it fell, causing significant damage to their home and property; the fence between our yards also is destroyed. Thankfully no one in our neighborhood sustained injuries; roofs, vehicles, fences, and trees can be replaced.
Some nearby damage
The rest of that day was spent with chainsaws as our near neighbors pitched in to help each other remove the debris. Others from the neighborhood whom we hadn’t met came to commiserate and introduce themselves. One contributed donuts! Everyone agreed: it was a joy to work together to remedy the situation.
Happily, we can tell friends and neighbors, “If you need to charge your cellphone, bring it over. We have power.” Unsurprisingly, many are scrambling to purchase a generator… for the next inevitable power outage.
Our provider promised Wi-Fi will be restored “soon.” But days later the electricity was still out – and was for some days (nearly two weeks for some!) – as the widespread destruction was immense. The outage also affected LIFE’s home office; no lights, no computers, no phones. We found workarounds while also tending to concerns in our homes.
Scripture is replete with exhortations to plan ahead: Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25 of the 10 virgins with their oil lamps comes to mind. And we have examples of forethought such as Joseph who enriched Egypt by storing up grain during the years of plenty so there was a surplus to sell to others when famine struck. In our case, the grocery stores were closed but Lori does a great job provisioning our larder. Gas stations couldn’t pump, but our cars had sufficient fuel for our current needs.
Scripture also speaks to the benefits of community: “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) and “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). The believers in the book of Acts exemplified caring for the needs of others.
We are SO grateful that the massive storm (and the ones that are following) did not happen the previous week when the Life in Messiah global team gathered for our quadrennial family camp. We had an amazing time of blessing with 163 attending (58 of whom were children). The kids’ program included lots of outdoor activities that would have been hindered by inclement weather. We thank the Lord for granting us a tremendous week with our staff, some of whom we met in person for the first time.
Several of our staff were inconvenienced in their return flights due to weather, but we’re grateful to the Lord for safe travels. Thank you to all who prayed. And rejoice that some of our visiting Russian-speaking team members were able to clearly present the gospel to a Jewish woman in Chicago who affirmed her faith in Jesus as her Savior!
Though the storms created great damage around us, we praise Him for protecting us all from injury or death. We trust the strengthened relationships with our neighbors will open doors for spiritual conversations.
And yes, we’re thankful as well for a working generator that powered our home when so many were without electrical service. It’s a reminder that proper preparation pays dividends when emergencies arise.
Written by Wes Taber, Life in Messiah Global Ambassador
What preplanning/preparation for emergencies have you made (or yet need to make)?
Have you experienced a sense of community when disaster strikes? How would the Lord have you demonstrate His love in meeting the need of a neighbor or coworker this week?
A most important question for future planning: “What will you do when your retirement is ended?” Most people put more thought into planning for retirement than they do for eternity! See John 11:25-26 to secure your future!
Endnotes:
[1] When a building is constructed on a low water table, a sump pit is a necessity. A circular hole is dug a few feet lower than the lowest floor to capture water from drain tile installed around the exterior that otherwise would seep into the building. A pump placed in the pit expels the water when it rises high enough to trigger the sensor. Of course, the pump needs a source of power to operate….