Sep
Storm Change
There are things we can change and things we cannot change. The Hurricane season illustrates this for us. Hurricanes are storms of tremendous power. They bring ferocious winds, pounding rain and storm surges. Since the 1950s, our science is pretty good at tracking them and predicting their likely course. We know a lot about them.
We do not know how to stop them, slow them or change their course. With present technology, we cannot change a hurricane.
We can change our plans and our homes. We can opt to build homes which are more resistant to winds, rains and flooding. There is also the way homes are placed. Knowing that some terrain leaves homes vulnerable to storm surges and collapse, we can choose not to build there. Instead, places can be selected where homes are safe from hurricane dangers.
We can also change ourselves. If a particularly powerful storm is coming, we have options. We can opt to ride it out or evacuate. Using basic knowledge, it is possible to determine if one’s home can ride out the storm, if extra protection is needed to ride it out or if it is best to leave the area until the storm has passed.
We cannot change the storm, but there are things we can change to assure our safety.
Hurricanes are an example of a principle. There are things we can change, and things we cannot change. We need to know what we can and should change. A popular prayer asks for the “serenity” to accept the things we cannot change, change the things we can, and grant the wisdom to know the difference. It sounds quaint, but it comes close to the concept: when you cannot change a thing, change that which may be affected by it. In our example, you cannot change the hurricane, so change your plans. You cannot move the storm, so move yourself to safety.
There are many things in our lives that are too big to change. For those things, this lesson is of great value.
