Born and raised in the Caribbean (St. Croix, U.S. V.I.) I am familiar with the devastating effects that hurricanes can have on the environment and on people's lives. I have lived through some very powerful storms myself before moving to the United States. Six years after leaving my homeland I had the unforgettable opportunity to go back and witness the devastation left by Hurricane Hugo, a catastrophic category 5 storm, back in 1989. Eighty percent of the homes and businesses were either damaged or leveled. So, when I heard that Irene would strike the east coast as a category 1 hurricane I must admit that I was terribly concerned particularly because I knew that our homes have not been built with hurricanes in mind. Knowing that damage was inevitable I braced for the worst and prayed for the best.
It has been over 25 years since I’ve experienced a natural disaster, but I have witnessed a few major floods as a result of past nor’easters. So, considering its size, force and speed I knew this hurricane would definitely cause some damage, but not as much as it actually has! Here I am three days later speechless and in awe as I see video footage of the misery left behind by Irene’s wrath. I find myself constantly thanking God that my family was spared from what is now considered to be the worst storm to hit our area in decades. Our home suffered no broken windows, no trees crashing unto the roof, no flood in the basement (it usually does) and no loss of power throughout the stormy night or thereafter. However, my heart goes out to all who have lost so much, if not all, in the wake of this storm. For them I lift up this prayer of comfort, peace and hope.
“Dear God in heaven, I plea on behalf of my relatives, neighbors and friends who have been affected by hurricane Irene especially those who have been left homeless and hopeless. I ask that in the midst of their tragedy they would find the strength and courage they need to move on. I pray that compassionate and generous hearts would be moved to help them rebuild and start over. I pray that their sorrow would draw them closer to you and to those they love and that sometime in the near future they would learn to laugh once again. I pray that the rays of hope would soon break through the dark clouds of hopelessness so that they can see, start and stay on the path to recovery. Most of all heavenly Father, I pray that we would never have to experience another storm like Irene and that if we do that we would all pull together as we have during this time so that your love would be ever visible through our acts of caring and kindness. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
