I neglected to add that recognizing and responding to those calls has always been the right choice for me. That inner whisper never leads me astray and has become a most trusted advisor in my life. It’s only when I ignore it that I have regrets.
Thank you for this piece. I feel that climate change is similar to gun violence. Many offer prayers and sympathy for the victims but there is little to no action on the root causes. There is a direct line between our burning of fossil fuels and increasingly ferocious storms. This means that we need to stop this burning as soon as possible and work to regenerate natural systems which absorb carbon dioxide. The means massive changes to how we do business. I think we do know this but don't want to say it out loud. I recommend following Katherine Hayhoe who has much to say on the subject. She calls all of us to take action on climate change
I was born and grew up in St. Croix US Virgin Islands. From birth to high school graduation I never experienced a direct hurricane hit! In 1989 my parents were preparing to retire and move to “the states” at year end. Hurricane Hugo hit 3 months before their departure. He was a category 5 when he hit and stalled right over my home, my island. My parents were spared but my childhood home, not so much. My parents advised me to Not come home, looting, etc. They didn’t want their daughter in that environment. So I never went back. They moved to Florida and that was that. Home is a place in my heart. I think I’m glad I didn’t witness the devastation. Terrell, reading about your drive home brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine how you felt.
I was in a cabin on the top of a mountain in Helen GA. A ton of rain, heavy winds but besides branches everywhere we were spared the devastation that some areas had. I always dreamed of living on the coast within walking distance of the ocean. Those dreams are now nightmares! I will be content to live in the center of the state of Florida and if I want to see the beach, I'll drive the three hours... I pray every night for those who lost everything including loved ones.
I live in a 100 year old historic home, built by the first druggest in Leesburg FL. My bride purchesed it from the estate and because it hadn't been updated she got it for a song. It's built with dimension lumber, even the roof. I've rewired it, put in a new heat pump/airconditioner, ripped out all the cast iron pipes and put in PVC. When Charley came through years ago and dropped two trees on the roof, the city was adiment we use the same roofing material. I looked them right in the eye and said if they could find me a company that made asbestos roof tile and someone to put them on, I'll do it. They said to do what looked best! Even when the area floods, my house is two feet off the ground. I guess the builders back then knew what they were doing. On a high note, I was given the okay to start running again in two months or at least walking fast. I've learned my lesson... listen to the doctor, do what they say, or you'll be watching the races on television.
I agree we need to do more than send our love and prayers to those that have lost and/or experienced so much. We all have to do as much as we know to do..........and hopefully we can make a difference.............however I will never stop praying and sending love to those that are in need. Whether it is sending food or power crews it all adds up to make a difficult situation just a little easier to survive. In these extremely troubled times I am so grateful to see hearts open and many unite to work together to help those they do not know.
I am definitely feeling this calling, Terrell. I feel simultaneously discouraged and motivated, if that's possible. These are the moments when we look for the helpers, and I want to be one of those helpers. Thanks for writing this.
Perhaps going home Terrell and returning to your roots (now uprooted) will finally call out to you to see the reality of climate change for what it has become. I always wondered if the running community could be sufficiently awakened to actually do something to help mitigate the effects of climate change upon this precious earth we plant our feet upon each day we lace up. Tina Muir & Zoe Rom wrote a book called " Becoming a Sustainable Runner". Perhaps you can lead your subscribers to embrace one worthy goal to help us all create a climate legacy we can be proud of. I hope you'll take up the challenge. ♥️👣♥️
I have definitely felt called. I had one of those amazing, overwhelming experiences of hearing God's voice and feeling God's presence, and it called me into ministry.
I feel like all of us are called in some way - maybe the experience is not so dramatic, but maybe just a feeling such as you are describing that pulls you into the essence of what is *most* important in your life, and how you have to express that or nurture it in some way. I love the Frederick Buechner quote - he is one who knew suffering, and yet also found the gems of joy beyond it.
I definitely feel those calls. The first was around age 13, when I read about the impact of nutrition on human health. That ended up determining my career, which I’ve been immersed in for over thirty years now.
I felt the call to leave the United States before I finished high school. I felt a perpetual friction with the culture of America; its grandiosity, narcissism, consumption driven values. It was abated somewhat when I moved to a different state for college and I spent a couple decades distracted by life. In 2015, there was a tap on the shoulder…in 2021, there was a smack across the face. It was time to go. ASAP. I had a child who was assimilating and I didn’t want to age in this place.
It took two years and a lot of work, but we made it out! It’s still a lot of work, but the quality of life, thus far, is worth it.
Sorry about the loss of nature in your native yard. Old friends lost too early. But your parents are alive and well! You and Little T, when the time is right, can plant new trees and flowers for him to make memories with. There we’ll be Happy Trails in your future.
As a retired AF meteorologist, I really enjoyed your post. In fact Kevin Trenberth was a professor at the University of Illinois when I went to graduate school there in the early 1980s. Not sure what you did at the Weather Channel, but I think we were some of the first viewers when it first came on the air! The devastation of Helena and what will probably happen with Milton is mind staggering. Some have suggested that somehow, someway these storms have been modified and steered. That seems crazy to me, but what we do see is that the government has been very slow in helping Americans in the aftermath. God help us. Thanks again for your wonderful post.
I neglected to add that recognizing and responding to those calls has always been the right choice for me. That inner whisper never leads me astray and has become a most trusted advisor in my life. It’s only when I ignore it that I have regrets.
Thank you for this piece. I feel that climate change is similar to gun violence. Many offer prayers and sympathy for the victims but there is little to no action on the root causes. There is a direct line between our burning of fossil fuels and increasingly ferocious storms. This means that we need to stop this burning as soon as possible and work to regenerate natural systems which absorb carbon dioxide. The means massive changes to how we do business. I think we do know this but don't want to say it out loud. I recommend following Katherine Hayhoe who has much to say on the subject. She calls all of us to take action on climate change
I couldn't have said it any better, Ann 👏
I was born and grew up in St. Croix US Virgin Islands. From birth to high school graduation I never experienced a direct hurricane hit! In 1989 my parents were preparing to retire and move to “the states” at year end. Hurricane Hugo hit 3 months before their departure. He was a category 5 when he hit and stalled right over my home, my island. My parents were spared but my childhood home, not so much. My parents advised me to Not come home, looting, etc. They didn’t want their daughter in that environment. So I never went back. They moved to Florida and that was that. Home is a place in my heart. I think I’m glad I didn’t witness the devastation. Terrell, reading about your drive home brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine how you felt.
I was in a cabin on the top of a mountain in Helen GA. A ton of rain, heavy winds but besides branches everywhere we were spared the devastation that some areas had. I always dreamed of living on the coast within walking distance of the ocean. Those dreams are now nightmares! I will be content to live in the center of the state of Florida and if I want to see the beach, I'll drive the three hours... I pray every night for those who lost everything including loved ones.
It’s so sad, but true. Did you see this in yesterday’s WSJ? https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/st-petersburg-florida-homeowners-hurricane-insurance-cost-4bc92822
I live in a 100 year old historic home, built by the first druggest in Leesburg FL. My bride purchesed it from the estate and because it hadn't been updated she got it for a song. It's built with dimension lumber, even the roof. I've rewired it, put in a new heat pump/airconditioner, ripped out all the cast iron pipes and put in PVC. When Charley came through years ago and dropped two trees on the roof, the city was adiment we use the same roofing material. I looked them right in the eye and said if they could find me a company that made asbestos roof tile and someone to put them on, I'll do it. They said to do what looked best! Even when the area floods, my house is two feet off the ground. I guess the builders back then knew what they were doing. On a high note, I was given the okay to start running again in two months or at least walking fast. I've learned my lesson... listen to the doctor, do what they say, or you'll be watching the races on television.
You and your love ones stay safe.
That’s a great to hear! (About being cleared to run!) Thanks so much, Steve!
Great read!
Thanks, Disco! 🕺
I agree we need to do more than send our love and prayers to those that have lost and/or experienced so much. We all have to do as much as we know to do..........and hopefully we can make a difference.............however I will never stop praying and sending love to those that are in need. Whether it is sending food or power crews it all adds up to make a difficult situation just a little easier to survive. In these extremely troubled times I am so grateful to see hearts open and many unite to work together to help those they do not know.
I am definitely feeling this calling, Terrell. I feel simultaneously discouraged and motivated, if that's possible. These are the moments when we look for the helpers, and I want to be one of those helpers. Thanks for writing this.
All the best to you and your family ❤️
Perhaps going home Terrell and returning to your roots (now uprooted) will finally call out to you to see the reality of climate change for what it has become. I always wondered if the running community could be sufficiently awakened to actually do something to help mitigate the effects of climate change upon this precious earth we plant our feet upon each day we lace up. Tina Muir & Zoe Rom wrote a book called " Becoming a Sustainable Runner". Perhaps you can lead your subscribers to embrace one worthy goal to help us all create a climate legacy we can be proud of. I hope you'll take up the challenge. ♥️👣♥️
I have definitely felt called. I had one of those amazing, overwhelming experiences of hearing God's voice and feeling God's presence, and it called me into ministry.
I feel like all of us are called in some way - maybe the experience is not so dramatic, but maybe just a feeling such as you are describing that pulls you into the essence of what is *most* important in your life, and how you have to express that or nurture it in some way. I love the Frederick Buechner quote - he is one who knew suffering, and yet also found the gems of joy beyond it.
I love this quote, by Jesuit priest Joseph Whelan...
Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
I definitely feel those calls. The first was around age 13, when I read about the impact of nutrition on human health. That ended up determining my career, which I’ve been immersed in for over thirty years now.
I felt the call to leave the United States before I finished high school. I felt a perpetual friction with the culture of America; its grandiosity, narcissism, consumption driven values. It was abated somewhat when I moved to a different state for college and I spent a couple decades distracted by life. In 2015, there was a tap on the shoulder…in 2021, there was a smack across the face. It was time to go. ASAP. I had a child who was assimilating and I didn’t want to age in this place.
It took two years and a lot of work, but we made it out! It’s still a lot of work, but the quality of life, thus far, is worth it.
Sorry about the loss of nature in your native yard. Old friends lost too early. But your parents are alive and well! You and Little T, when the time is right, can plant new trees and flowers for him to make memories with. There we’ll be Happy Trails in your future.
As a retired AF meteorologist, I really enjoyed your post. In fact Kevin Trenberth was a professor at the University of Illinois when I went to graduate school there in the early 1980s. Not sure what you did at the Weather Channel, but I think we were some of the first viewers when it first came on the air! The devastation of Helena and what will probably happen with Milton is mind staggering. Some have suggested that somehow, someway these storms have been modified and steered. That seems crazy to me, but what we do see is that the government has been very slow in helping Americans in the aftermath. God help us. Thanks again for your wonderful post.