WHAT THE STORM DID FOR US (Part 2 of 2) So again, the storm equalized us, united us, pushed us to give generously & sacrificially, checked our motives and brought a bounce back in the Filipino spirit... But as I processed a little bit more, I discovered a few things: What the storm did for us? 6. Prepares us for the next storm We are still in the rebuilding process and theres much work to be done in the affected areas. The full recovery may take a couple of years and it will not be an easy task to upraise homes with a snap of a finger. But because of the severe damage, it teaches us to prepare better. Our country is hit about 4 times a year because of our location in the map and this should provoke our leaders, the people of PAGASA and our disaster relief agencies to develop better plans in evacuating, relieving, rebuilding and restoring. I was only 16 when Typhoon Ruping tore Cebu apart and we had no water and electricity for weeks. But the Cebu government stood on its feet with little assistance and collaborated with the private sector. Everyone stood shoulder to shoulder with each other to throw away the scrap and make room for bigger, better developments. Shortly after Rupings havoc in our town, Cebu became one of the best cities to live in the world, as judged by international third parties. Sometimes things have to be ruined for newer and better things to arise! I believe Tacloban, Ormoc and all of Leyte and Northern Cebu including other islands badly hit, will recover, will rebuild and will be better positioned for the next 10 years! But the urgency to get better international training in disaster relief operations, meteorology, evacuation methodology and the like is paramount. We cannot afford to sleep again and just say its just another storm without knowing the repercussions of its potential damage or the embarrassment of our slow plan of action. This time, government agencies should be more vigilant and adamant. Foreign expertise will help for we cant wait for a Yolandoy to set foot again without being thoroughly prepared. 7. Established businesses with a purpose Days after it all happened, business owners and SMEs joined hands in a monumental effort to fuel various causes. All of a sudden, profits was not the bottom line; saving and helping people, became the order of the day. From profitability, companies switched to generosity as giant retail brands such as Islands Souvenirs launched some of the most purposeful relief campaigns ever seen in our economic climate. Not only them, but several industries followed suit and discovered that they can innovate business opportunities that promoted the value of humanity. Essentially every business must make money to pay for overhead expenditure, infrastructure development and sustainable growth. But those concerns took a backseat. It was the victims of Yolanda that took the front seat of all business priorities. And the more these businesses gave, labored, served and blessed, the more abundant they all became. Social entrepreneurship is alive and it has opened endless possibilities for more entrepreneurs to make bigger contributions. 8. Increases the value of family Whenever I see separated families on TV and stories of mothers who lost their children or fathers carrying their dead infants, it breaks my heart, as it does many others. But on the other side of the coin, it makes me realize how grateful I should be that I can hold my wife, embrace my son and still share a meal together. This is a day and age where work seems to be the topmost priority and family gets neglected, under-prioritized or considered optional. When the earthquake hit Cebu, I could care less of my possessions for as long as I held on to my greatest possessions --- my family. Calamities of such magnitude makes us realize that family is invaluable. You can never be too successful without the people that you love the most cheering you from behind. Even today, many families are facing storms of their own -- financial, marital, emotional and spiritual. But when the winds clear, theyre still your family, Gods gift to you and it is our responsibility to love them and care for them to the best of our abilities. 9. Leads us to repentance This is a bit controversial, but it is worth sharing. Is this tragedy the result of Gods anger burning against innocent people? I dont know, and Im not sure. We can never fathom the thoughts of a Supreme Being and the Creator of all things. But yes, there is such a thing as Gods wrath, and there are records in the Bible, the book of life, that points these (e.g. Noah and the flood). In fact, God can use catastrophes to remind us that He is righteous and all powerful (the Bible mentions wrath more often than blessing, by the way). While they can be scary to all of us and at times painful to understand, it is a sobering reality for all of us to acknowledge His supremacy, His power and His purpose behind everything. And consequently, it makes us switch on that holy fear, of Him. The funny thing about us humans is that we think we can control everything, even life itself. No, we cant. Were to feeble and our lives but a vapor. We also have the tendency to approach God only in scarcity or lack and not when things seem well. Surviving both the earthquake and the storm has imputed upon me the need to fear even more this mighty God. And in that fear, it brings about a genuine repentance to align my life to His will and to live in a way that is pleasing to Him and others. There is too much freedom in this world that we fail to understand the consequences of a life not surrendered towards a righteous God, Who alone has the power and the grace to make us righteous in His sight. 10. Puts our devotion on the Lord And finally, this storm has given us a better definition of the word uncertainty. But through it, it gives you and I a clearer understanding of the words clarity, of priority, of humility, of reliance, through a personal, growing, intimate and life-changing encounter with God Himself. What can you do in the middle of the storm? You can only do so much, but pray. Just as the disciples of Jesus themselves experienced stormy weather and raging seas, it was only in their authentic encounter with Jesus that they knew Him as Lord, Savior, Storm Calmer, Ever-Present-Help-in-time-of-Need, Shelter and Refuge. These disciples lived with nothing in their pockets, were scorned by those they reached out to, but were rich in walking closely with the most influential character in the history of mankind. Their lives, although martyred and destined for death, was too shallow, too superficial, to pointless, compared to the surpassing knowledge of truly knowing Jesus Himself. I dont know with you, but as for me and my wife, this storm made us closer to Christ. It made us realize our nothingness in the heart of his completeness. And if a life was centered around Him, the promise is we will not tame the storm, but we can walk through it together. For it is in the eye of the storm that I have come to have veritable moments with the Savior of the world. Im one of millions who hated what Yolanda did to us. But Im grateful somehow, for what she did for us. Resilience leads to brilliance. To GOD BE THE GLORY!
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 04:45:51 +0000
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