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| Newfoundland winter storm - photographer unknown Today brings another moist, gray day to my part of Nova Scotia. While I enjoyed gardening yesterday, my neighbours to the south outside of Buffalo, NY had such a fierce dump of snow that Interstate route 90 was closed in sections for up to 20 hours! Travellers stranded in their vehicles tried to help each other out. A boys' and girls' basketball team shared the bus they travelled on with their coaches and driver overnight. Yes, weather can get intense in this part of the world. |
Who am I to talk though? I'm sure many of you could give me much more intense examples of the weather's impact in your country. For example, one year at the school where I used to work, we returned after our Christmas vacation to settle into the winter term; international students arrived in dribs and drabs due to their lengthly travel times.
Once classes had begun, a houseparent shared this story with the rest of the faculty. One of the likeable, serious international students who lived on his flat asked to have a word with him. He said, "Sir, is it possible for me to take a bit of time off from participating in sports for a little while, because my leg is injured." The houseparent replied, "Oh, I'm sure that will be all right, and that's too bad to hear that you've injured your leg. How did it happen?" The boy replied humbly, "Well sir, my family was on vacation over the holidays and we were caught in the tsunami." There was stunned silence from the houseparent at that point I'm sure, but details followed of this boy's close escape with his father from this horrific event.
Fortunately, this boy's family all survived that terrible natural disaster in Asia that killed thousands and thousands of people. Fortunately too, this boy seemed all right emotionally and he was ready to get back to his studies. He studied hard and upon his graduation was accepted to Johns Hopkins University in the USA, a prestigious medical school, where he intended to become a doctor, so that he could help others. So for this one boy, it was just part of his life's experience to witness a profound natural disaster.
We all witness some kind of disaster it seems. Whether it be a familial disaster, a regional disaster, an automobile accident, or a disaster created by the weather. When it is your turn to experience a disaster, I wish you the strength and calmness to survive. To carry on, to inspire others with your humility, with your helpfulness.
We all can benefit so much from helping others. Reaching out to others brings personal satisfaction. Of course, it also really helps for you to take good care of yourself first. That's our first priority, and our second priority, is to help others.
I include a photo taken in Newfoundland one winter after a storm. It circled around on the internet a few year's ago, and I cannot credit the photographer as I don't know their name, but I think you might appreciate it.
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