When you’re waiting for the storm to pass...

Another week, another hurricane.

This one is headed straight toward us, which means that this week has looked very different than I thought it would.

Everything is canceled and our only concern is making sure we’re prepared to weather the storm…and the aftermath.

It means securing any objects that aren’t tied down, putting up shutters, and gathering emergency supplies—nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, water. It means checking in with friends and neighbors to make sure they’re okay, filling up the bathtubs with extra water just in case, and making ice blocks to keep the fridge and freezer colder longer in the event we lose power.

All while we anxiously await the latest storm update from our favorite meteorologist, hoping each time to get a better sense of exactly where this monster storm might go.

Floridians are actually pretty tough when it comes to hurricanes. 

I’ve lived in this state for 20 years now, and while the media loves to hype up every storm that comes through, anything less than a Cat 3 is usually just an excuse to take the day off and have a hurricane party. No one even blinks.

But this one—Milton—is the real deal.

And the mood is different.

It’s not fear. It’s weariness.

Because it’s not actually the storm most of us are worried about. 

And don’t get me wrong, the storm itself is very scary. It’s already one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded. It’s a beast. And it’s terrifying.

But what really scares people who have done this before is the aftermath.

The weeks and months of cleanup. The total disruption to our lives. The losing everything and having to start all over yet again.

Here in Fort Myers, we’ve only barely recovered from Hurricane Ian two years ago.

And many people on the west coast of Florida, from Punta Gorda to Sarasota to Clearwater Beach, are still reeling from the devastating storm surge Helene brought less than two weeks ago. All their lost possessions are still piled on the street.

I talked to a friend yesterday who told me, “I don’t think I can do this again.”

I felt that deeply.

And yet, what choice do we have?

It’s almost a metaphor for life, if you think about it.

Because while you might not currently be in the path of an actual hurricane, you might be in the midst of your own kind of storm.

Maybe it’s a sudden loss.

An unexpected illness.

A relationship in tatters.

Financial distress.

Without much warning, your life has suddenly been turned upside down, and it’s all you can do to hang on.

You’re just waiting for the storm to pass.

And frankly, you’re not sure just how much more you can handle.

But here’s the one thing I know: This too shall pass.

And maybe that feels trite, or not at all helpful for whatever situation you happen to find yourself in right now. Maybe it feels like the whole world is ending, and nothing will ever be the same.

And you’re right. Things might not ever be the same again.

But life does go on. 

And you will find the strength and courage to survive whatever challenge you’re facing right now, because you have to.

You will be different. But you will be stronger. And wiser. And more courageous and compassionate than you were before.

At least if you choose to be.

Haruki Marakumi once wrote, “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

Along those same lines, Timber Hawkeye said “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” 

In other words? The light is there, even if you can’t see it right now. So hang on.

My challenge for you this week, whether it’s a literal storm you are facing, or a metaphorical one, is to dig deep. Tap into that reserve of inner strength that lives inside of you. Find your courage. And then keep going.

And please, pray for Florida this week too.

Stay safe, my friends.

xoxo, Ruth

This week’s podcast episode…

What’s cooking in my kitchen…

Here’s the recipe I shared this past week:

The latest from my Instagram…

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