How Quickly and Randomly Life Can Change
There is a randomness to life that is sometimes difficult to reconcile. Yesterday, we had a destructive flood here in Frederick, MD. Water covered the park abutting my house. Fortunately, the water level never reached my house, nor did we lose electricity. It was like we could see nature’s power without facing its real effects. Unfortunately, there are many people who weren’t so fortunate. The most recent storm destroyed their house, ruined their personal belongings, and sadly, in some tragic cases, resulted in a loss of life.
When events like this happen, we should use them as a reminder of how fragile life and our expected everyday reality are to external circumstances. No one is immune to life’s unpredictability. We may wake up one day with everything okay, only to end the day with everything in tatters. We may unknowingly experience the symptoms of a minor head cold, which can lead us to the brink of a pandemic. We may take our social and political stability for granted, only to watch it almost unravel before our TV screens in just one afternoon. Two planes could fly into two buildings, and one could crash into a field on a beautiful September morning that will change your sense of safety and security in the world forever. It really can happen that fast. Life can change in an instant.
It started as an enjoyable day. I was facilitating a Vistage Key Executive Group meeting. The group members were fully engaged, producing excellent work, and the time passed quickly. Then I started getting concerned texts from my wife. The weather worsened progressively, the skies darkened, and alerts began appearing on my phone. This unusual weather pattern was concerning. As I drove home, I saw several cars that had veered off the road and ended up in serious accidents. Fortunately, in each case, police and medical personnel were already on the scene to provide assistance. Then, as I got closer to home, the rain worsened, and my wife’s texts turned into increasingly nervous phone calls.
When I finally got home, I could see that a good portion of the city park in front of our house was underwater. And, that water was already starting to form a rapidly moving current. I felt confident that, given our elevation, our house would be okay. I did worry about some of my neighbors. The power was lost for an instant but returned quickly, which was undoubtedly a relief and a stroke of good fortune. That isn’t always the case with bad storms around here.
It became fascinating and a bit unnerving to watch how many people drove or walked downtown to take in the spectacle. It certainly was an unusual event to witness. I’m glad that none of us had to witness any tragedies or find ourselves in a heroic, lifesaving role. It ultimately turned out to be more of a curiosity than anything. However, I couldn’t help but wonder: what if one of them, especially a child (there were many around), had done something silly and gotten caught up in a fast-moving current? Sometimes, common sense is a casualty of curiosity.
The fact that life can be strange at times is undeniable. In the battle between man and nature, I think we’d be foolish to believe that humans have the edge over Mother Nature. Indeed, we have successfully adapted to nature when it is predictable and cooperative. I’m not so sure we’re well-equipped to deal with nature when things go awry. I now live in an area where tornado warnings are becoming increasingly common. This is a new phenomenon. Are we being confronted globally and locally by warning signs that nature is becoming more volatile and unpredictable? I’m not sure, although it does increasingly feel that way.
I wrote this blog as a reminder to myself and others about the fragility of life and how quickly things can change. Don’t take anything for granted. Hug your loved ones when you leave in the morning. Make sure your affairs are in order. Don’t hold on to silly grudges. Maybe be a little bit more patient with others who may annoy you in a given moment; you may have to rely on them one day. You also have no idea what someone else is dealing with. You’re only making assumptions, which might be incorrect. There are many of our fellow Americans who are in deep distress now. It isn’t their fault. Something beyond their control has affected them. It could have been you or me. Let’s never forget that. Life can change in an instant, and we should be humble in the face of this reality.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are currently suffering… I certainly hope things turn better for you soon!
