Hurricane Gustav

So I just received news that our campus will be shut down today at 3pm until Thursday of next week due to the impending storm, Hurricane Gustav. Mandatory evacuations have been called for some of the parishes surrounding N.O., but N.O. itself has yet to be required to evacuate.

I have never been through a hurricane season in New Orleans before. Going through hurricane seasons in Florida never seemed to be as big of a deal as they are here. The anxiety I see on the peoples faces and hear in their voices seems to be increasing by the moment, this is namely true for those who went through Hurricane Katrina (which, by the way, was exactly 3 yrs ago today). Even the children seem to be abnormally hyper.

Ultimately I know that our God has all in control. What I mean by that is not that He has created and designed this storm, or any other, to destroy homes, lives, or livelihoods. Rather, I know that in the midst of life's "storms" -- physically visible ones as well as emotionally/spiritually lived ones -- God provides the peace and resiliency it takes to persevere. We do, however, have to ask.

I ask that any of you who may read this; pray for N.O., for the people still struggling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, for where this storm will hit, and for whom this storm will impact.