I picked up my daughter from college last week, and we spent many hours driving through Illinois and Indiana. On that day of driving the sky was blue, the air was clear, and the water to the left and right of us sparkled as it reflected the warming sun.
We gazed with delight at the spectacular scene until we saw the roof of a farmhouse roof just breaking the surface of the water. We both gasped.
Then we noticed more houses, submerged telephone poles, and the tops of huge trees. Instead of witnessing the beauty of a natural lake, we were observing the fierceness of a flood.
We both became quiet as we pondered how many lives were changed, forever, by this tranquil scene. I imagined farmers who were still counting their loss, wondering if they will ever recover.
I pondered the incredible delicacy of each day, and how I might handle the same situation. What if every material thing I’d worked for was washed away?
- Would I have friends that I could count upon because I had been there for them?
- Would my soul be so solid that it could survive the loss of all things material?
- Would my life goals be so substantial that the loss would be merely a financial setback?
I cannot imagine the personal loss that these people have experienced. But speaking purely from a perspective of material loss, some victims will come out of this situation with stronger mental muscles and souls that burn even more brightly with the passion of purpose. Others will be ruined, and will spend the rest of their lives lamenting the day the flood came.
I hope I am the person whose mettle will be strengthened through adversity.
How would you handle the loss of all the things you owned?