LESSONS FROM THE STORM
PART TWO
Last week I did my best to describe how the ice storm of 1998 affected me. It is now more than a week since the angel of power passed over our home to restore our late twentieth century lives. But, the memories are still fresh, and so are the effects.
At the time of this writing (January 20), parts of Ontario, Quebec and Maine continue without power or phones. Yesterday, after two weeks, the public schools in Montreal opened again. Most of the power will be restored within a week or two and life will return to normal — kinda!
The response to the storm has been incredible. Right now there are hydro and phone personnel from all across the country working in Quebec and Eastern Ontario. I know that there are several Maritime crews who were sent to Maine to help restore the power and phone services there. In Ontario, alone, it is estimated that 80% of the power infrastructure was taken out by the storm. This basically means that 50 years of work, construction, engineering, improvements, and backup systems were reduced to ice covered rubble.
One of the great stories of the storm's aftermath has been the pooling of resources, work forces, even economic supplies, to help those hardest hit. In particular, the thousands of military personal dispatched to Quebec and Eastern Ontario have done an amazing job as the eyes, the legs, the backs for Emergency Services, the police departments, and Hydro.
Last week, the local dairies in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island began processing milk sent from Quebec. This has allowed the farmers in Quebec an opportunity to salvage their milk rather than literally pouring their incomes onto the ground. Then, we had industrial generators that were refurbished and sent from the military. Others were taken from the roof tops of hospitals and government buildings, not to mention one generator that was used in building the fixed linked to Prince Edward Island. This one generator is capable of running an entire hospital or community of 200 homes! Meanwhile, the Red Cross co-ordinated efforts with schools and others, to send comfort packages to those still in shelters. They also collected funds for the relief and rebuilding effort.
Back at home, after a week with the power on, people are still shaky. One of the results I've found particularly interesting is the fear that continues to lurk below the surface. In the first three or four days after the power came on, we received all kinds of calls warning us that the power was going to go off again. Every time we called NB Power and got the same answer — "We know nothing about it!" Obviously, the rumour mill has been working overtime! Then we have the normal, tough, weather-beaten citizen of these parts reduced to fearing a snow flake. It used to be that a snow storm would give us reason to hit the streets and shake our fists at the elements, but no more. We're too insecure now! We're still licking our wounds, I guess. As I contemplate the storm's aftermath, the phrase, "I've never seen anything like this!" continues to be just as applicable. Ok, so what further have I learned from the storm?
First, I now have a love/hate relationship with power. In the few days that we were without power, I got a glimpse into what the world should be, could be like. Those with wood heat took others in, our family was the recipient of that kind of neighbourly response. But more importantly, without the distractions of the net, television, video, or Nintendo, people reverted to being socialable. Imagine! We talked, we played games, we read to one another, we did puzzles and sometimes just sat silently together. Yes, the storm was difficult and stressful, but it was also one of the greatest sharing and family times I've ever experienced! Then, when the power came on, so did the tv, so did the computers and everyone went their own way. The convenience of power is great, but so is it's threat! There is no doubt in my mind that our communities, our families, our relationships would be so much richer if we didn't have the distractions that come with power. But, I also realize that you wouldn't be able to read this article right now, without power. All I know now is that somewhere there has to be a rethinking, a re-prioritizing. We have to learn to turn the distractions off so that we can regroup and reconnect as families, as communities! The fact is, we would all have more time to serve the Lord, more time to read the bible, more time to play and communicate with our families and neighbours, more time period, if it wasn't for the electrical choices we've made.
Second, we had a bit of time to prepare before the storm hit. We were told by Environment Canada, and we saw what was happening in Ontario and Quebec. So that Wednesday when the storm started, we got ready. Sheila did some baking, we turned the heat up, we made sure we had candles and oil for our oil lamp. We rigged up a battery operated radio, and filled the bathtub and various buckets and jugs with water (in rural areas like ours, no power means no water either!). And we had our hot meal at noon, instead of our regular evening time. But, not everyone was prepared, and we certainly wouldn't have been if we didn't know the storm was coming.
That Saturday, when we first ventured into town, I noticed that whereever we went people were trying to by oil, kerosene, and batteries, but everyone was sold out! Obviously, some people didn't have enough time to get ready. Over and over, Jesus, Paul, Peter all warn us to be ready for the Lord's return, for we don't know the day or the hour. Jesus will return like a thief in the night, in the twinkling of an eye. But, will we be ready? Will we be like the foolish or wise virgins in Matthew 25 when the Bridegroom returns for the wedding? I have to admit, some days I'm not ready, what about you?
Finally, we've all been reminded that trusting in the "power of man" is a big mistake. Even with the best of intentions, even with vast resources and wisdom, even with years of preparation and planning, the power of man has failed. So what are people asking around here? How can we find other ways of taking care of ourselves? How can we prepare for some future storm by not relying so heavily on something that can be so fleeting? Good questions to ask! What about you? Are you trusting in the power of man — money, abilities, securities that can be unplugged in a moment? Or, are you plugged into the eternal source that will never have a power failure, our Lord Jesus Christ?
