The Irish's have been house camping for the last week along with our fellow Texans.
Over the course of a few hours, all resources that are normally plentiful were not anymore. The winter storm limited electricity, water and halted life as we know it.
Roads covered in snow and ice made it impossible for product to get to grocery stores. Grocery store shelves were soon completely empty. Water had to be boiled because water pumps could not function properly. Dinner was cooked by candlelight or on the grill. Families huddled in one room to keep warm. Board games were pulled out.
House Camping.
At our camp, electricity was plentiful. Our plumbing however was a different story. The pipes lost their battle with the low temps, froze, and then one called it quits. Water began to rush inside our walls and escape onto our floor. It sounded like a waterfall. I kept thinking how happy I was that I had just swept. I just started to laugh. What else do you do? It's not everyday you go on a hunt for rogue water coming out of your baseboards and lower cabinets. Maybe I would get a bathroom remodel...
Or maybe not ... a plumber answered our call for help and two holes later the pipe was fixed. There's water damage on the ceiling so who knows...maybe there is a chance for a remodel after all.
Still, we decided to keep the water shut off while the temps stayed in the single digits. You know, just in case other plumbing parts decided to play the break dancing game.
This meant the rest of the week we didn't do a lot of "normal" house things. Everyday things like wash dishes, wash clothes, wash faces. We had bathtubs full of water for toilet things and Travis pulled out his handy hiking equipment to create safe teeth brushing water. It was an adventure!
We've all heard the stories. Communities in a far away land that do not have access to clean running water. Drinking water always came to my mind. Now I know that it is much more than going without drinking water. I never realized how much I use water in my everyday life.
Of course in true Irish fashion, in the middle of the crazy we made time to adventure. Those families in far away places do too. We make do with what we have. Resiliency.
The boys got to play in real snow for the first time (that they remember anyway). They got to sled down a hill and feel snow splash on their faces. They got to build a snowman. They got creative and built an obstacle course out of furniture and mattresses. It was loud and crazy and good.
Our neighbor shared his homemade sled with us and sprinkled extra salt on the sidewalk. Our brother brought us milk. A bowl of cereal never tasted so good. Our family and friends checked in on us. Families that were without moved in with families that had plenty. Recommendations of plumbers and preventive tips flew across the internets.
Community living.
In the Bible the book of Acts tells the story of the early church. The book begins with Jesus sharing the promise of the Holy Spirit with the Twelve. Jesus told them that they will be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Chapter 1, verse 8). To spread the Gospel was their assignment. This was no easy task. Everything familiar was left behind to complete the mission. They relied on strangers to open their homes. They shared their food. They shared their belongings. They shared their gifts of cooking, storytelling, and leading. They shared their love.
Community Living.
What if we take all that we have lived and done this last week and take it into our tomorrow?
What if we were quick to rely on each other when life happens? Little and small. What if we carried a heart posture of community living even when the worry of warmth, clean water, and safe travels is not part of our day. When the rhythms of life (work, school, keeping little ones fed) go back to normal.
What does it look like to carry this out?
Life will go back to normal-ish. The sun is already shining and spreading its much awaited warmth. The dogs are getting their long walks. But what if...
