Japan-Katrina Deja Vu- Merry Monday by Parris Bailey
“And a man shall be as a hiding place form the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isaiah 32:2
Looking at the recent footage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami definitely brought back flashbacks of Katrina. Our landscape changed in that storm and we are still rebuilding the city 6 years later.
A few months after Katrina, Frank and I wrote the “Eye of the Storm”. This is a excerpt from the book:
“A month before Katrina hit New Orleans, Frank and I went to Bulgaria. Bulgaria holds a special place in my heart, we have made many visits there. The long term effects of the Communist reign has had a devastating impact on that little country. The buildings are crumbling, the people don’t make enough money to live and there is not enough jobs to go around. On that trip we had just ministered at a church near Varna near the black sea. We went to grab a bite to eat up in the country side. As I look back on that day, little did I realize how God would use the events that followed to help me face the Katrina that would be coming just one month later. After lunch we begin to ride back down the mountain. We soon came across this Shepherd in full shepherd gear with his sheep, and his staff. I felt like I step backed into time, when we got close enough I saw his face. It was weathered and worn, but something about his face made me feel the peace of God. Something about the landscape spoke to me. The next thing I saw happened as we came across a little village and in this village I saw two girls washing their clothes in a wash pot laughing and giggling. When I looked at them, once again I felt a unusual peace. Finally we reached the valley below only to see field upon and field of huge sunflowers. All their black faces face the sun whenever it is shining. It seemed at that moment all their faces turned to me and once again I felt peace.”
When Katrina hit, God brought back to me all those visuals of Bulgaria. It became obvious, that the Shepherd always watches over the sheep, he weathers the storm. The girls giggling as they washed their clothes reminded me to take pleasure in the simple things of life, and of course the sunflowers are made beautiful as they fix their gaze upon the SON. He becomes our apple tree. It provides the shade, the fruit and the protection from the world without. I pray you can join with me as we let our Shepherd guide us, find joy in adversity and continue to drink from the rivers of water in a dry place.