Hurricane-Proofing

An oncoming storm. From our apartment in Hanoi.

​Hurricanes! Wow! What winds can blow before and during a hurricane! What a force of nature that could take down even the champion of the strongest man competitors. Buildings in areas affected by hurricanes must be built with certain designs and construction methods/material to make them “hurricane proof.” They may not withstand all damage, but these guidelines will help the buildings survive strong winds and storm surges and have less damage. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the state of Florida established new building standards. These standards require the use of cinder blocks in construction and the use of concrete pillars for reinforcement. Also, there were certain changes to the construction of roofs to provide greater resistance to the winds of the storm and prevent the lifting off of the roof. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane-proof_building)

​I don’t know if you have noticed but 2020 has had some pretty massive storms blowing through this year. The winds have been of hurricane force, destructive, picking up even the strongest of institutions, beliefs, way of life, etc. and moving these all around…rearranging things we never thought could be rearranged. It reminds me of the idea that “everything that can be shaken will be shaken.” All of this has brought an opportunity to examine the construction of our lives. What is our life built on? What kind of materials have I used in the construction of my beliefs, my vision, my security, my purpose, etc.? When our comfort gets shaken, our sense of security gets shaken. But the bigger question is…is the roof—that source of covering and protection we have placed over our lives—being ripped off by the force of the winds? Is the roof securely anchored or is it able to be blown away?

I would encourage us to think about our lives in this manner: “Am I hurricane-proof?”

As I reflect on my 2020 and my life, there are some take-a-ways that I have as 2020 is coming to a close…

• Purpose: I have been born for such a time as this. I can face today and tomorrow with purpose. I am meant to be here NOW! There are things for me to do and people for me to help.
• Security: My roof has “connector straps” to anchor my protective covering. What are these straps? Connector Strap of my Faith. Connector Strap of my relationships (family and friends—like you!). These are in place, and I am endeavoring to strengthen these “connector straps.” These hold the roof in place against the hurricane force winds.
• Smile: Have you heard of the power of turning a frown into a smile? Try it! It really does change something in you. It is a matter of changing perspective. What if we face life with a smile instead of a frown? What if we can be positive versus pessimistic. Now, that doesn’t mean we dismiss the wrong and the concern. It does mean that we adapt an attitude of hope instead of doom and despair. It means when we see a wall, we start looking for the door that gets us beyond the wall. We see the glimmer of light at the end of the dark tunnel. SMILE!
• Others: Living beyond ourselves. Maybe I have everything buttoned up, or not, in my life? Either way, I must begin to look beyond me and mine. There is a world of people that are less hurricane-proof than me. Their world is crashing and burning as the hurricane blows through. I cannot save everything, but I can do what I can do. I can do good as the opportunity comes. AND I can look for the opportunities!

What are your reflections about your life in 2020 as we come to the close of this memorable year in the history of mankind? Let's finish this year as some would say: “Make it count!”