The hurricane bullied toward the coast, cracking lightning bolts over the dark bellies of the clouds and indiscriminately slinging tornadoes to earth. It was useless to pretend that nothing would happen or lament that we were not ready. Life does not wait and does not look back.
As if invincible, the storm swaggered on, not knowing that it was merely transient – impermanent- and would inevitably encounter a rainbow.
The collision of the hurricane with the rainbow muffled the winds and humbled the storm’s conceit as the rainbow avalanched into a montage of the red, gold and caramel colors of Autumn. A sweet loamy aroma lingered, prophesizing both a beginning and an end. The summer’s vibrant song quelled and the serene serenade of Autumn rose.
In the hurricane’s aftermath, white clouds scuttle back into place and the sun breaks through with excited shafts of light that stroke the collage of leaves and branches covering the battered ground. Sleek and lustrous water puddles sleep on the sidewalk. Cool autumn gusts sprint through streets, whirling leaves with left over debris into transitory twisters that provoke unwelcome memories. Night comes quicker and lingers until dismissed by the unhurried sun of dawn.
Breathe the cleansed air to dispel the parade of disasters that have taunted resilience and courage and applaud the trees that wave their surviving leaves defiantly, like proud Mardi Gras flags against the unpretentious hues of the branches. They convert Autumn, a potential season of sadness, into a gateway to rebirth and renewal.
I am filled with hope.
I shout like a crazed warrior and relish the sound of my voice resounding through the trees. I listen for an echo and I am not certain that I hear it. Then it comes – like a quiet hymn that stretches the high notes and joyfully soars into an anthem sung by multiple, diverse voices of neighbors, friends and family remembering why and for whom they lived.
We have been changed, transformed and reborn.
Life gives, even when she must take, reminding us to share time’s eternal and magical dance together or be lost.
Shoulders that soaked up the despair spilling out from anguished tears now join together. Shoulder to shoulder, strangers and neighbors remove fallen trees, fashion blue roofs, sweep away debris and plan to rebuild. Those that eased the dark will come back to visit again and again.
With the spiritual power of the fall equinox comes renewal, not reprisal. It illuminates the fallacy of plenty that is merely fool’s gold waiting for nature’s claim. A catchword buzzes from mind to mind – simplicity.
It is possible to create a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich; a life lived on one’s own terms. It would be a disservice to merely return to what was and not dare to reinvent our lives, to release what no longer serves us in this moment. Adversity and perseverance offer value and a self-esteem that is precious.
In the aftermath of any disaster, when your knees touch the floor, you will know what gives your life purpose and meaning and how you want to live the rest of your life.
Will you sit on the porch steps and listen to the stories your grandparents tell about their youth? Perhaps pack a picnic basket and dangle the hook of a fishing pole into the bayou, wishing only that a trout will take the bait so you can wrestle him to shore.
Do you want to dance to the band and – even if you can’t carry a tune and don’t know the words – sing loudly? Surely you will laugh and keep dancing. Do you savor crawfish etouffee, oysters, shrimp remoulade and red beans and rice to fill the stomach? Will you find the time to attend Church to thank God and ask Him for solace and peace?
It is your choice if and how you will endure. Listen to what the earth is trumpeting in halleluiah colors. Embrace Impermanence. It is the soil that nourishes newness, goodness and turns what is into what could be.
Adversity can break you or make you. Like the wind, it will strip away anything that is superfluous, that can be tumbled or torn and leave behind what is vital. There is a triumph in each experience that may have not been born without it.
Shoulders back, standing tall despite adversity and personal risk, untold numbers tap unforeseen strengths to help others during misfortune, endeavoring to do the right and just thing, even if others take no action at all.
Every challenge successfully conquered serves to strengthen the will, confidence and ability to confront future hurdles. When life knocks you down, it is not always easy to get up and act decisively. Your path through the dimness is made easier in the guiding light of the moral compass.
Look for the rainbow when a hurricane is forecast. Both rain and sunshine bring blessings.
Stars can’t shine without darkness. (Photo by Khamkéo Vilaysing on Unsplash)