As you know, Hurricane Ike unleashed its wrath on South Texas last week (September 2008), with disastrous consequences on states as far removed as Indiana and Ohio. The storm took precious lives, destroyed billions of dollars in property and still leaves millions of people without electrical or other basic services. So today I pray for every victim of Ike, and give thanks for protection of my own and others’ homes, an undeserved mercy which has no rational explanation in view of losses suffered by many faithful servants of God.
I also give thanks for deliverance through a personal storm during the same general time period. Last week when Ike came ashore at Galveston, Sara Faye and I (with longtime friends Mark & Phyllis Whitt) were sailing along New England and Canadian maritime provinces on a cruise ship vacation. This wonderful holiday became my personal health storm when on its second day I suffered a severe asthma attack and afterward came down with pneumonia. After spending days in the ship’s on-board hospital, I traveled last Sunday by ambulance from the ship to New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where I spent five days and was released today.
God sent his angels along the whole journey, by ship and by shore, and I will share some tales, lessons, observations and reflections later. For now, Sara Faye and I are pampered house guests of dear Christian friends in New York until Saturday, when we hope, God willing, to fly home to Houston.