The Worst Storm Ever

It's almost amusing how much hype a storm can get.  Granted, it was a huge one that caused major damage all up and down the east coast and many people are still without power 5 days later.  Some of the terms used by the media were "the perfect storm," "super storm," "storm of the century," and even "Frankenstorm."  It's very sad how some people are suffering with lost houses and conveniences.

I almost feel guilty that we escaped what a lot of others are going through.  The winds were certainly strong and trees were swaying, but none of them were uprooted on our property.  We only lost some branches.  From inside our house, the wind sounded like a blizzard.  (We were thankful we didn't have to shovel any snow!)  But the house was sound and snug, the windows didn't even rattle.  We never lost any power for which we were very thankful.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes all are such visual displays of God's power and might.  And think about how Jesus was able to calm the storm with just a command.  Even the waves and winds obey Him. 

We're very grateful for God's grace and mercy toward us.

With the bad weather, I've had some extra time for reading.  I just finished H.M. Stanley's book, How I Found Livingstone.

 
What a great account of Stanley's adventure through east Africa looking for the doctor.  His descriptions of the countryside were picturesque, his depictions of the people were interesting and realistic, and I was especially fascinated by his description of the effects of malaria.  I just have to include that here:

"The first evil results experienced from the presence of malaria are confined bowels and an oppressive languor, excessive drowsiness, and a constant disposition to yawn.  The tongue assumes a yellowish, sickly hue colored almost to blackness; even the teeth become yellow and are coated with an offensive matter.  The eyes of the patient sparkle lustrously and become suffused with water.  These are sure symptoms of the incipient fever which shortly will rage through the system.

Sometimes this fever is preceded by a violent shaking fit during which period blankets may be heaped on the patient's form, with but little amelioration of the deadly chill he feels.   It is then succeeded by an unusually severe headache with excessive pains about the loins and spinal column, which presently will spread over the shoulder-blades, and running up the neck, find a final lodgement in the back and front of the head.  Usually, however, the fever is not preceded by a chill, but after languor and torpitude have seized him, with excessive heat and throbbing temples, the loin and spinal column ache and raging thirst soon possesses him.  The brain becomes crowded with strange fancies which sometimes assume most hideous shapes. Before the darkened vision of the suffering man float in a seething atmosphere, figures of created and uncreated reptiles which are metamorphosed every instant into stranger shapes and designs, growing every moment more confused, more complicated, more hideous and terrible.  Unable to bear longer the distracting scene, he makes an effort and opens his eyes and dissolves the delirious dream, only, however, to glide again unconsciously into another dream-land where another unreal inferno is dioramically revealed and new agonies suffered.  Oh!  the many many hours that I have groaned under the terrible incubi which the fits of real delirium evoke.  Oh!  the racking anguish of body that a traveller in Africa must undergo!  Oh! the spite, the fretfulness, the vexation which the horrible phantasmagoria of diabolisms induce!  The utmost patience fails to appease, the most industrious attendance fails to gratify, the deepest humility displeases.  During these terrible transitions, which induce fierce distraction, Job himself would become irritable, insanely furious and choleric.  A man in such a state regards himself as the focus of all miseries.  When recovered, he feels chastened, becomes urbane and ludicrously amiable, he conjures up fictitious delights from all things which, but yesterday, possessed for him such awful portentous aspects."

What a picture he paints.  It's amazing he made it and lived to tell the tale of his adventure.