Hope is...

A man clinging to his rooftop being rescued after his house was swept nine miles out to sea.

A father clinging to his newborn son, grateful that he and his young family were able to heed the tsunami warning and get to higher ground.

The polite resignation of the Japanse people that though the center has run out of supplies, more is on the way.

A brother who has hit rock bottom, formerly finding solace in the bottom of a bottle, now healing in a rehab center, finding comfort in prayer and sobriety.

Less than stellar job offers and tightening finances which point to another plan, not of our making but of His.

Positive feedback of a potential sale...though they love the house but not the colors of the walls, they say it's only paint, after all.

Jesus on the cross and the empty tomb.

Awesomely terrifying...

Amazing, stupefying, hair-raising, devastating, horrifying.

Water wreaking havoc of epic proportions. Moving plates liquefying what was assumed to be solid.

Worst fears realized for many people, even deeply affecting some who live thousands of miles away from ground zero.

Forces of nature serving reminders that we are small and physically powerless against the sheer brutality this earth can unleash.

Images bored into my humbled head that will never, NEVER be forgotten.

Water saves, water kills.

I am on my knees...

Just a reminder...

I've got a cold...for most people, that does not pose a threat.  For those afflicted by auto-immune arthritis, like myself who are on immuno-suppresant drugs, a cold can quickly develop into something much, much worse.  When I get sick, I have to rely on people, rest, fluids and more drugs to make sure I fully recover.  It leads me to believe that a cold is more than a virus, it's a symbol...

I think it's God's reminder for me to be humble.

Whadda ya gonna do about it?

When completely overwhelmed with life and the trials it throws your way, there is a struggle to not fall into complete despair.  Knowing that it is precisely these times in life when the devil tries to take his due, the effort is worth every ounce of intellect and will to fight the spiritual battle, even if it leaves you exhausted.  Yet, there are very dark times when God seems so far away and you feel left alone, betrayed even, because of the stress.  What can you do?

Pray.

Pray...Even if it seems as though God is not answering you.

Pray...Even when you think there is just not enough time to even get your daily tasks done, let alone be still and on your knees long enough to communicate with Jesus.

Pray...Even when you feel as though God has let you down.

Pray...Even when it seems the whole world is against you and you think there is nothing you can do to change the situation.

Pray...Even when you fail to see the upside to the fact your body is failing you.

Just pray.