I haven't written in awhile. Life was turned topsy turvey when Sandy hit the NJ shore. First I want to say I love living near the beach. My kids growing up going to the beach all year. We love it. Even now 3 months later it is still hard. Words can't explain it. You have to go through it. This whole event changed us as a family and people. Things in life I thought were important weren't anymore. That morning were prepared to stay through the storm. Nothing prepared me to evacuate and leave. I never thought we would see our house again.
God prepared me for this a year before with the tornado and the earthquake. Coming home the day after was sad. What I saw devastated me, our town, our house. But this was a spiritual awakening too. For months I knew we were to follow in a different path. Growing up in NY always prepared me how to survive. At first you fall down but then you get up and move on. It is like riding a bicycle. You keep getting up until you learn how to do it right. In life we get up until we are following down the path God intended for us. Some of us are a bit stubborn, like me. It really must be that Spanish and Irish in me.
I was very drawn to the churches in our town and the shore area. They help me deal with what happened. They were there when we needed help. People helped us who I would never guess would come to our aid. They helped and aided people immediately. I never thought this would be a spiritual journey for me, but it has. I started in one church and ended up going to another. I remember my old pastor once said that we are supposed to go out and spread God's word. I never thought it would be me. I was so conflicted.
I left writing 16 years ago because my kids were born. Now I feel the need to write about the journey, or God is prompting me. Three months ago I would have never thought I would be on this path. I believe God prepares you for what you need to do. A new parish community, writing and homeschooling has taken on more of a journey. Who knows where it will lead to?
