Rev'd James M. Hairston

Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire came down on the earth. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

 – Exodus 9.23-24 (NRSV)

As we enter the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and its impact on the State of Texas and the impending landfall of Hurricane Irma on the State of Florida, I have been reminded of the global impact of storms, both literal and metaphorical.

I’m reminded of the global impact of storms when I open Facebook and read my newsfeed. I see friends and relatives who have either been directly or indirectly impacted by the physical storm. I have friends and family in the Caribbean and in Florida who have fled their homes (most cases with families including small children) to seek safe shelter. I have friends who haven’t been able to reach their friends or family in the impacted areas.

That lack of knowledge of a loved ones whereabouts is a metaphorical storm. The traumatic reminder of a previous physical storm is a metaphorical storm. The interactions of those who have lost everything due to natural disasters can place one in a metaphorical storm. Overall, prayer and supplication are needed during this time.

-Fr. JMH+