Flying Above The Storm

Many times, in order to survive, we have to start a change process.

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits & healing mourning hearts.

Only freed from past burdens, we can take advantage of the present.

In my previous blog I shared about spreading my new wings in 2021. I was excited to take flight to new heights and enjoy a sense of new freedom.

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

This eagle was ready for the storm and when the winds changed I spread my wings & soared up, higher and higher. Once I was above the storm I found comfort there and decided to stay there until now. We are called to soar above the storm but we should not lose sight of the wind that takes us there.

2021 started with a bang… we were facing our 2nd wave of the pandemic and this time it was closer to home than expected. It was truly a challenging time, and there is really not much we could do for people other than helping them with cooked meals, getting stuff from the shops for them and prayer. I remember at one stage I was cooking additional meals almost daily. You would hear of new people testing positive and going to hospital. Once they go to hospital you did not know if they will make it home. This took a huge emotional toll on me. I found myself not knowing what to say to comfort people on the phone – people that needed actual human touch and support but they were alone at home… mourning the death of a loved one.

At the same time, I had a friend fighting for her life, alone in hospital. A friend that was so much more than just a friend. She was my boss, mentor, work mom & friend. She believed in me, inspired me continually to do my best at everything I do. She helped me strive for goals. She invested time in me, took time to teach me new things. I found guidance, friendship, discipline, love and so much more, everything in one person. And that person was Estelle, who passed away in January after fighting so hard against this virus. Even in her weakest moments she still taught me so much.

Rest in Peace my Friend – a piece of my heart died with you that day.

As the cases got less I found myself physically & emotionally exhausted and decided to take some me time. I needed some time to blank out all this hurt. Laughingly I will tell everyone that I am enjoying some lazy time. It’s been four months of being lazy. It took a while but I realise now that being lazy is sometimes needed but it is so easy to make that the norm and before you know it you lose momentum and perspective of what you need to get done. I thank Jesus for revealing this to me and my family & friends that kept pushing for me the get out of that comfort zone.

I was just working on a motivational talk about bullying for teens and got inspired to write again. I was inspired to write a blog on the effects of bullying and depression – but you will have to wait for this one (it will not be a long wait).

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power (the wind) to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, if we are really honest to ourselves, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.