Floods and Goodbyes

Yesterday was one to be remembered. Flood waters of the Riley cut the village of Bluffton in half. It's the worst flood in my memory. People had to be evacuated. Basements all over town were soaked. DTR workers were stranded at work. I 75 was closed when water covered an eighth of a mile of both north and south bound lanes. When you see the river, overflowing its banks, your jaw drops and all you can say is, "Wow!" It's floods like the one we're experiencing that reminds us of how many things are out of our control. As human beings we like to be in control. But life throws us curve balls that demonstrate otherwise. It's another powerful "object lesson" that shows our need to throw ourselves upon the One who knows all and truly is in control. Nothing takes the Lord by surprise. When the tough times come it also provides opportunities for His creatures to respond. I saw people in boats helping others out of flooded vehicles. A firemen carries a woman out of her apartment. Others use a front end loader to go through the waters to bring people safely out of the swirling waters. To me this is a signpost that points to the fact that we're made in His image. We're made to do good as He does good. Yesterday was also a day of goodbyes. Pat and I took Mary to Huntington University for her second year of schooling. We were able to get out on town and head west in the afternoon. By 5:00 pm., we had Mary situated in her room for another year of academics and socializing. We hugged and kissed and said our goodbyes. It seemed like it was just yesterday when we picked her up after finishing her freshmen year. That's how time goes. This marks the end of the summer season and saying hello to a new today. That's what it really is, all about. It's living for today. It's how the Lord would have us to live. Today is all we are guaranteed. So live for Him and say goodbye to yesterday.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"