In my half century of life I have been through major earthquakes and numerous hurricanes and tropical storms, a tornado and a war. However I cannot remember being more concerned about a natural disaster until now. Hurricane Irene looks like it is on target to slam into the Island Hermitage as well as my home inVirginia Beach.
Last night I was not very concerned, it looked like the bitch would stay far enough to sea that things would be fine. Late last night my Judy called me worried and with my computer I looked at the models and told her that things would be fine and the storm would likely stay far enough at sea as not to cause too much damage. This morning I got up and the first thing that I saw was that the computer models were now zeroing in on the Outer Banks and if the models are correct will also come very near to or actually strike Virginia Beach. As of now most of the models have the eye of the Irene coming ashore as a Category Three hurricane around Morehead City and Beaufort North Carolina which is about 20 miles to the north of the Island Hermitage. Since Irene is a big mother that is much too close for comfort.
Calm before the Storm
I went out to the beach this evening for the last weekend before the Labor Day holiday the beach and the neighborhood were incredibly quiet, the very real calm before the storm. When I walked out of the Island Hermitage the only noise was that of some kind of noisy insect in the trees above me. I got to the beach and decided to try to get around without my cane and I did pretty well. I think from now on I will only use it when the leg is hurting. It’s been almost a month since I broke the Fibula and the doctors said 4-6 weeks so I will give it a shot. Anyway I took off my sports sandals and walked out to the surf. There were a few people on the beach. I took a number of pictures and I noticed the colors of the sky which were tinged with the reds and oranges of the sun which had just disappeared over the horizon. The surf was heavier than I have seen since I moved here and the breakers dissipated as they came ashore. It was all too peaceful. It is hard to imagine that in less than 48 hours the serenity before me will become a watery inferno with winds gusting over 100 miles an hour.
Pat Robertson has written and spoken about how he prayed away a hurricane when he first established his ministry in Virginia Beach. Since Pat’s headquarters is in Virginia Beach, along with his Christian Broadcasting Network Studios and Regent University he has a big interest in praying this one away. So I hope that Pat gets off his ass and uses his special double top secret probation prayer line to Jesus in to get Irene back out to sea. I don’t even care if he claims credit for it on TV and in his next book.
I called Judy to let her know that she needed to take the dog and execute our evacuation plan. A neighbor will be watching our house in our absence and let me know if we sustain damage. My insurance company has already sent me an e-mail assuring us that they are with us; it’s a good thing to be a long time member of USAA. Even so I do not look forward to any kind of storm damage.
I am a safety first kind of person. I have already let my staff know that they can take leave tomorrow to get out of Dodge if needed. Since I am essential personnel at the hospital I will be caring for our patients, staff and their family members during the storm. All the models make this look really bad for this area.
Yes I am praying for all those that live along the East Coast just as I do for others. Unfortunately I have already heard some preachers, Christian ministers, the allegedly “Christian” head of the far right website Worldnetdaily, Joesph Farrah and a Jewish Rabbi announcing with almost smug arrogance that this is God’s judgment on our country. As always it is the fault of homosexuals and not the fault of the incredibly greed filled financial institutions that have contributed so much to the economic turmoil that has engulfed the world and the preachers that seem to elevate Wall Street above the Gospel.
I’m glad for these people that they are so sure of this, but I’m sure that the Lord probably thinks otherwise, besides Pat Robertson would be in the crosshairs too, but then maybe God is mad at him and the rest of us are the collateral damage. My word to all of these preachers get off their asses, pray for the people on the East Coast and be ready to render assistance as they can. After all it’s the Christian thing to do. I know that is what I will be doing, but that’s just me.
Peace and Blessings,
Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 