Robin Patchen's Blog, page 8

Hurricane Sandy Stories

The anniversary of Hurricane Sandy is over, and the world has moved on. We’re gearing up for Thanksgiving, and Christmas music is already playing in the stores. January first will be here before we know it, and the nation will celebrate the start of a new year. But for many of the survivors and victims of Hurricane Sandy, their lives don’t move along with the next news cycle.

I don’t know why watching the coverage of Hurricane touched me like it did, but seeing the storm, the damage, the houses scattered like pieces on a Monopoly board, I felt I’d never be the same. Maybe it’s because I’ve witnessed that kind of destruction, only on a smaller scale, with the tornadoes that have torn through the land here in central Oklahoma. Maybe it’s because I have a special love of the east coast, especially the northern coast, having grown up in New Hampshire. Whatever the reason, I could not get over seeing all that damage.

Though I know each business and each building mattered to someone, it was seeing the houses that touched me most. I remember thinking that each one of those houses represents a family, a story. And most of those stories, we’ll never know.

I’ve started a Facebook page dedicated to the people who survived Hurricane Sandy. You are not forgotten. And your stories deserve to be told. Visit the page and share your stories. A sentence, a paragraph, as much as you feel comfortable sharing, for no other reason than to know there are people who care what happens to you.

As a special incentive to Sandy victims and anyone else who cares enough to visit the Facebook page, I’m giving away a $50 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice). Click on the Giveaway tab on the right to enter.

And if you want, check out my book Faith House, one fictional story of one victim of Hurricane Sandy.

It’s not about me

I have this terrible habit. Whenever something bad happens to me or anyone in my family–especially one of my three children–I spend hours, sometimes days, trying to figure out exactly what I did wrong. I rehearse my words and analyze my actions and worry every aspect of the issue until I make myself sick.

Today, I was reading in Genesis 25 about Rebecca, when her twins were struggling within her (and don’t you wonder what that felt like?) She asked herself, “Why is this happening to me?”

And God’s response was that the babies were struggling and would always struggle. Essentially, the Lord said, “Honey, this has nothing to do with you.”

Today, I saw that in a whole different light. The issues she faced were not a result of some mistake she’d made, some horrible sin she’d committed, some careless word she’d uttered. The trial she was going through was not about her.

Hmm. Maybe the trials I’m facing are not always about me. Maybe I couldn’t actually prevent every problem by being, well, perfect. Maybe I should take James 1:2-4 to heart. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So my goal for today is to try to consider all of the messy issues of my life “pure joy.” And maybe they won’t feel that way, but that the Lord will use them to make me and those I love mature and complete–that something to smile about.

Lexi’s performance at Cimarron Celebration

On February 15, 2013, my daughter and her friend, Gracey, performed I’m Yours at their school’s talent show.

 

Welcome to my new website

Today I did it. I switched over to a WordPress website. Phew! This is hard work. I need to relax. How about you? Why not relax with a cup of coffee (or tea–my favorite) and a great book. May I recommend One Christmas Eve by yours truly? Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.