Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: REFUGE (08/29/19)
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TITLE: Nowhere To Go | Previous Challenge Entry
By Arlene Baker
09/03/19 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“You’re such an angel.”
“People have shown me great kindness during many difficult periods of my life. I'm honored to be in the position to pass it forward!”
“If only everyone understood that is how humans work best.”
“Amen to that!”
The messages above are my correspondence with an Airbnb guest. She lives on one of the islands east of Savannah. I live 30 minutes north of the city. She’s in the mandatory evacuation zone, I run an Airbnb.
Last Friday, she booked for five days as Hurricane Dorian developed in strength. We’ve had many text conversations as we prepare — she, hubby and fur ball to evacuate — and me to host. My own bedroom is reserved for a man with a severe medical condition, his wife and daughter.
Meanwhile, we wait.
Those of us who live in hurricane prone regions tend to become jaded rather quickly on the endless coverage of possible doom and devastation. However, we still prepare.
Many I know are praying. Praying that Dorian continues its crawl in the Atlantic until it spins itself out. Praying for minimal impact. Interceding for mercy, and few lives lost.
I have another former Airbnb guest who lives in West Palm Beach. I immediately offered her refuge should she opt to leave. We’d bonded the moment we learned we share the same father — Papa God. She’s going on a mission trip next year to the Middle East. I contributed to her expenses.
Three years ago, next month, Hurricane Matthew hurtled through our area. My best friend and I had nowhere to go. People who barely knew us opened their home to us. They became close friends as well as the other ladies who sheltered with them through the storm. We coexisted for a week without power because it took crews that long to clear enough downed trees to safely restore electricity.
Those ladies took me in for the next two years. I was in a domestic crisis and virtually homeless. In return, I now doggie sit for free every time they need to travel. Well, sort of for free. They always bring my own canine a large box of treats when I take care of theirs.
God restored me to my home last year. My best friend lives with me now, as well as my brother. Now, we wait for this hurricane to make up its mind. My door is open to those who need shelter — as I had, through Matthew and the following years — and I’m honored. Honored that now I am in the position to pay forward some of the kindness shown to me.
What is my point?
Kindness. Extending kindness to family, friends and strangers.
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The names of hurricanes confused me. I kept thinking this Dorian was the one on the East coast yesterday.
Maybe a line describing each incident would help. 'Hurricane Dorian, the cat 4 in '99,' for example.
Very fresh, pertinent, and new.
Good message!
Blessings~