An Unexpected Lesson in Balance

I am from Maine.  In Maine, when there is a major storm (whether rain, snow or ice), you may be without power for an hour.  Up there, they are quick to fix any power outages.  Unless there was a problem with your individual power line, consider yourself up and running and enjoying life while the storm dissipates.  Granted, Maine's population is nothing compared to where I am living now.

When talk of Hurricane Irene was rushing through the media loops and sending people frantically to the grocery stores, I sat comfortably at home laughing at the hysteria weather can inflict on society.  With the category 1 hurricane only hours away on Saturday, I managed to vacuum and my husband ran the dishwasher, but I figured I would get to the laundry after it passed.  I would have all day Sunday to do some housework, go grocery shopping and work on my blog.

Clearly I am still new to this southern storm thing.

At 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, our power was gone.  So was our internet and our cell phone.  All we had was a flash light and a charged portable DVD player (only thanks to my husband).  Time ticked on, rain poured down and wind slashed through our yard shaking the house and knocking over trees and fences in its path.

Sunday was beautiful.  The weather was perfect, the humidity low, and God had blessed us with no damage.  We had no power but we had each other.  For three whole days we could not connect with humanity if we tried.  If someone called my phone, I had no clue.  If someone emailed me, it sat untouched in my inbox.  If the world was ending, I had no idea.

I was a troglodyte.

My family and I enjoyed three whole days of peace away from our electronics.  Not a care in the world.  We barbecued each night.  We played outside for hours.  We bathed the kids in the hose outside (since our septic inside is electric-powered).  We did laundry and dishes by hand. 

We read and played games.  With no air conditioning, we opened the house and let God's breeze cool us.  The image was even complete with my constant running around the house brandishing a fly swatter like an old maid circa 1953.  My husband and I connected in the evenings with no distractions and went to bed early to start the next day refreshed.  It was a much needed vacation that did not cost a cent.


But, like all vacations, we longed for the little things of our daily life.  A hot cup of coffee.  A call to my parents.  A simple meal.  Air conditioning for the sweltering and humid nights.

While the serenity that came from our 1850s lifestyle was cathartic and much needed, I will admit that the moment the power came back on, I started the dishwasher, began a load of laundry, popped in a movie for the kids, and hopped on the internet all within an hour of our electric restoration.

God has a funny way of swinging life into perspective and making us grateful for all things, big and little, while also showing us the balance for which we should continue to strive.  Tomorrow I will sip my hot coffee outside while watching my children play in the sprinkler with no television, but the sound of the washing machine will sing like a lullaby in the background.  Life is all about balance.