Strength through the storms
image courtesy of photobucket.com
When you live on or near the Gulf Coast, hurricanes are a fact of life. Despite advances in technology, no one can definitively predict when and where a storm will reach landfall. Neither can we predict the ultimate devastation the forces of nature will inflict. With each named storm, residents consider the warnings and advice of the meteorological experts and then make an educated decision to do one of two things: seek shelter further inland or shelter in place. Given enough advance warning and time, we can always get far enough inland to escape the effects of a hurricane.
But what of those people who live on remote islands in the middle of the ocean?
I have heard of one such island in the South Pacific–a tiny yet self sufficient community of fishermen. No one really knows how long the island has been there. The inhabitants have no formal education to speak of, and their history is passed on verbally by the island storytellers from one generation to the next.
One such story involves another island. A neighboring island which they once called home. This island had a very special feature—a naturally occurring harbor surrounded almost entirely by a strong rock wall formation with only a small passageway by which boats could pass from the open ocean. Whenever the seas and winds would rage, everyone knew to get to the shelter of this harbor until the storms had passed. For untold years the harbor protected boats and residents from even the deadliest of storms.
The people were grateful for this safe harbor. And when the rock walls on either side of the entry point began to show wear, some of the islanders wanted to repair the damage done from the storms and the countless ships which entered seeking safe haven.
But many more did not. Surely, they reasoned, a fortress that has sheltered generations of fishermen would continue to remain strong. Others were privately concerned about the damage years of wear had inflicted, but chose to do nothing—hoping that the harbor would remain strong for at least as long as they needed a safe refuge from mother nature’s fury.
Ultimately, apathy and self-interest won out, and no effort was made to repair the stone fortress. The harbor continued to provide safety for the islanders. But years of neglect began to take its toll on the harbor. Though not visible with the naked eye, cracks began to form within the center of the rock formation. While outwardly the harbor seemed as strong as ever, internally its strength was diminishing with each passing day.
So when a relatively weak tropical depression made its way to the tiny island, everyone was shocked when the rock walls surrounding them began to crumble. The wall began sliding into the water at the innermost part of the harbor—working around towards the tiny inlet where so many ships had entered seeking refuge. The destruction was slow, giving all the islanders ample time to board their boats and escape into the open ocean.
Just as the last boat escaped through the inlet, the walls on either side sank into the ocean.
This was the safe harbor’s final act of sacrifice to the people she cared for and protected but who chose not to care for and protect her in kind.
A beautiful sacrifice, and yet such an unnecessary one.
This post is part of the blog carnival on Strength, hosted by Bridget Chumbley. To read more, please visit her site.
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Yes, beautiful and very sad! I hadn’t ever heard about this island before.
I hope Alex doesn’t bring a lot of devastation as it gains strength and moves inland.
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..Strength Blog Carnival =-.
So glad we have a safe harbor within a rock that will never crumble!
.-= Sandra Heska King´s last blog ..Swallowed by His Strength =-.
I’ve never heard of this Island. How sad.
The wall sounds like a mother, to me. (or maybe I’m just a bit worn out lately;)
I too had never heard of this island — what a sad story, told beautifully.
.-= Louise´s last blog ..You are Here =-.
I think of the pounded rock often from a different perspective, by Jacob Riis, taped above my desk at work: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it – but all that had gone before.”
Sometimes you mess with my head (in a good way).
.-= Candy´s last blog ..Tasty Bites- Frozen Watermelon Slush =-.
Great story…super interesting. I hadn’t heard of this ever before either. I can’t imagine my home being under constant attack like this, I bet it’s got to be incredibly difficult.
Kathy, you’re amazing!
.-= Jake´s last blog ..One Word at a Time- Strength =-.
It sounds like you’re talking about more than just an island in the Pacific. It sounds like you’re talking about our own country, and I have an idea of what the fortress is.
.-= Glynn´s last blog ..She Was Strong- This Woman =-.
You are a very observant man, Glynn.
I combed the comments looking for clues to where I’ve heard this story.
There’s something you and Glynn aren’t telling me.
.-= Duane Scott´s last blog ..discovering your strength =-.
So, apathy is not only weakening but even destructive.
.-= Monica Sharman´s last blog ..What the Spotter Says =-.
What a wise woman you are, and your words can move moutains as well as hearts!
.-= HisFireFly´s last blog ..Tuesdays Unwrapped – Hummingbirds =-.
Apathy is such a killer. Instead of listening to the voice of God we can foolishly find ourselves looking to “faith, hope, and pixie dust.” We stay “positive” while the world crumbles around us and it’s all so needless… Thanks Kat.
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..God Makes Great Sequels =-.
This could be applied to so many things in life. Very well said Kathy.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Flashback =-.
Great post, Kathy.
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..A Portrait of Milton Glaser =-.
Prayers and faith…keep our walls strong…
Powerful story, thanks for sharing!
Jay
.-= Jay Cookingham´s last blog ..Bad Sheep Time – A Cup of Joe =-.
WOW! Powerful story!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..It is infinitely easier to quit than to endure =-.
Wow, Katdish. Nicely done here.
This is a great analogy for our whole culture … this sort of cracking from the inside.
Also, I think about how we can so easily slap on a smile and a glossed appearance and pretend that we’re walking the Jesus walk. But on the inside? Some of us in the pews are really, really spiritually sick. And there’s so much apathy around us, that no one notices or steps in to help the hurting find the true Healer.
I thank God that He is the Mighty Fortress, a bulwark never failing … amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Some how,nature gives us warning about various calamities at time.But hardly any actions are taken upon.I cite example of many floods happening across the world.There is a pattern in the rainfall and the floods,despite knowing it,authorities waits for floods to arrive until they take action.If precautions are taken many lives could be saved and people could be moved to safer places much earlier.Nice that you shared this info.
Very good. I love the “natural” elements that are utilized to help us adapt situations/stories to the personal world we live in. I also agree with Glynn… it’s very adaptable to our day and age. Hopefully more people will start fixing and stop assuming.
.-= Joanne Norton´s last blog ..KENTRIL and CURTIS and JOSEPH =-.
Beautifully written. And powerful.
.-= Elaina´s last blog ..Summer Soundtrack =-.