Lately Popo (Popocatepetl), the volcano that we see through our living room window, has had some minor explosions. In the mornings we wake to see his plume cloud before the pollution sets itself over the city. At first this was neat, somthing we had never experienced before, but then when I started to hear people talk about the already poor air quality (apparently one day in Mexico City is equal to 3 packs of cigarettes a day) becoming worse due to the smoke from Popo my fascination began to wane. As my mind began to digest different outcomes of an eruption I was left with a somewhat helpless feeling. The "what ifs" churned in my mind. What if Popo blows and the poor people living so close lose everything? What if when he erupts it turns the sky dark and we are not near the kids? How will we get to them? Will stores be open to buy water and other provisions? Will the people panic?
What if ..........
As if mulling over Popo outcomes in my mind wasn't enough Andrew and I were awoken twice in less than two weeks by earthquakes. They were not huge or anything but they were still something to be experienced. The first one was only 4.5 on the Richter scale and the second was 5.4. During each quake we calmly made our way to Beth's bedroom, our youngest daughter, to wait for the rhythms that swayed our apartment to stop. Or for signs that it was growing stronger and needed to hurry the family to cuddle under the table or beside a load-bearing wall. My immediate instinct tells me to gather everyone and descend the stairs in our building until we are outside, but I was informed not to do that. Apperantly in the huge1985 earthquake that rocked Mexico city many casualties could have been avioded if people would have remained in their apartments. Apparently others that lived around us were not even aware of the earthquakes. I guess living on the 8th floor insures you feel every earthquake no matter how minor. After each earthquake I crawled back in bed (as each hit on Saturday mornings, my only morning to sleep past 6 am!) and then prayed and thanked God that it wasn't as bad as it could of been and that my family was all safe and sound. Then my mind began to run with the unhelpful "what ifs". What if next time it hits and it's harder? What if next time the kids are not with Andrew and I? What if.....
It was then that I heard a small quiet voice in my head that said "Don't worry about tomorrow". And then Matthew 6:30-34:
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I couldn't argue with the truths found in these verses and it brought calmness to my mind. I remember that I haven't been left here on my own to fend for myself. God my heavenly Father is here watching over me, and yes life hasn't been perfect and no it won't be perfect but I can trust the God of the universe to watch over me and my family. I only need to live one day at a time and not get caught up in the maybes of tomorrow. They are often just distrations put there to keep us from enjoying and fully living in the moments of today.
Here is a song I enjoy listening to called "Volcano Land" by Caedmon's Call on the Share the Well album (2004). (Inspired by a trip to different places in the world and meeting 4 brothers who played music together. They wrote the CD to bring awareness of the social injustice around the globe where some people depending on status are denied water and any possibility of education and employment to rise above thier given birth status.)
Hola, me llamo Efraim
I was born among the agave
All I need is this transistor radio
And I am in a band, it's a family band
With the brothers in the years above me
And now we have a song that we'd like to play you
He sang, "Volcano,
Livin' in the shade of the volcano
The volcano
Livin' in the shade of the volcano."
I was ridin' on the bus to the amber hills
I was feelin' like a hundred pesos
And somethin' in my soul was certainly hear to stay
Ain't nothin' on the hill goes on without
The ever-lovin' mother's say-so
Now everything is all right
Everything is OK
She said, "A volcano,
Livin' in the shade of the volcano
The volcano
El Seor es siempre bueno."
Home for me is beneath the palm trees
Where they grow to be about sixty feet tall
They leave you with the feeling
That never leaves you alone
Never leaves you alone
Ok here is a link to a video for the song. I will warn you its lame but I'm pasting it along for the words . http://youtu.be/htXmtx1vm60
