Ms. Veronica, an incredibly wise and multigenerational counsellor of souls.
Ms. Veronica is a lady of impeccable generosity, identified not simply by the hospitality and greeting, but also by the few moments of grace deserved and afforded in polite request to make herself more ‘presentable‘ for unexpected company.
Upon return, Ms Veronica immediately became Vera, a woman, widow, great grandma and neighbor who may not have enough, but she’d give a stranger half – and they would never know.
This is a powerful woman filled with a message. “Hurricane Ian did not create victims,” she immediately captured my full and undivided attention. She continued, “I am not a victim.”
“There are dead people, and there are survivors.”
Long pause. The depth of her eyes, intense.
I am wise enough to notice moments when my prior opinion of self, strength and fortitude are immediately being redefined. I am also smart enough to stay silent.
“Our loving God does not create victims, and apparently he is not finished using me.” Veronica’s eyes now alight. “In this moment I am filled with rejoicing,” she said, “because I know there is a purpose I have yet to fulfill.” From me, more smart silence. “How incredible is it for me at 90 to realize there’s more use, more purpose, and more time,” she concluded.
Then, just as casual as one might order a familiar coffee on any ordinary Tuesday, Vera asked…. “How is it I can help you boys?“…
There are rare moments in life when we say the right thing. For me today was one of those moments. My reply was simply, “I think you just did.”
You know something, she’s right.
All the Mr. and Mrs. Veronica’s are not victims; none of us are. God doesn’t create victims – people do.
How stark is the reality of hearing, “there are dead people, and there are survivors.”
If you are not in the former, none of us are, then we should rejoice and realize we have purpose yet unfulfilled.
♦ Scott from Fort Myers beach lost every worldly possession including his home. Scott is not a victim. How do I know this? Because I’ve seen Scott over several recovery efforts, and today I worked side-by-side with Scott for almost two hours before someone passing a water bottle told me he lost everything.
Eventually after the task at hand was accomplished, ear plugs removed, I asked Scott what he needed. His reply was simple, he didn’t know enough yet to be able to answer that question. Oddly, I think I understand. Scott needs to accomplish the two feet in front of him. Purpose within this moment, because his new normal is miles ahead. Yes, today I was the incredibly shrinking man.
Now the fun part of this…. Remember Veronica? When she said, “how is it I can help you boys,” Scott was the plural, he was standing right beside me.
When we jumped in the back of the truck, he leaned over and said to me, there’s the answer to your question.
The message was big. Ms. Veronica was the vessel, and it was Scott -not me- who was the intended target.
♦ Cynthia (aka Cindy) and John are successful small business owners. They are as attached and committed to the Cape Coral, Florida, community as any young couple could be. After originally planning to ride out the storm, they changed their mind. Late last Tuesday they loaded their car with all their most important possessions and evacuated a few miles inland to stay with friends.
Cindy and John survived Hurricane Ian and returned late yesterday to survey their property and evaluate if they could start to rebuild. A massive power pole and tree blocked their driveway, but from the street it looked like the house was structurally okay. Nervously John and Cindy navigated the debris and went inside to check.
In the fifteen minutes they were inside their home, someone stole all their possessions from the car they parked on the street.
Cindy and John are victims, that’s the difference.
Oh, and the guy who handed me the water bottle and told me about Scott’s loss…. That was John.
Today I learned again that bearing witness makes you small in comparison.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
**In the fifteen minutes they were inside their home ….
Someone stole all their possessions from the car they parked on the street.**
If caught & convicted.. Hung on light post(s)
Don’t forget drawn and quartered…
Exactly!
slowly
Hard to believe there are “people” like that out there. I would call them something else but God would get mad at me.
There are many people out here like that and with leadership in the District of Criminals and a failed judicial system they continue to flourish.
One day they will pay for what they do and the lives they live will soon haunt them.
Jesus getting mad at the money changers is a good example of it being OK to get mad at trash
He would really get mad at me for saying what I think.
Lol! Me too!
An important lesson for the coming collapse
Vermin… what do you do with vermin?
It will take politicians, police and prosecutors who are smart and have big cajones who will free the cops to do their jobs.
Remeber the last time you saw that?
Hung by their ankles during the next hurricane, maybe 4 feet above average high tide.
Naw… hung at sea level and checked on weeks later
Only Medieval justice in brutality, and Biblical justice in scope will stop this.
comeuppance /
teachable moment(s),
hand the theft an ax – and ask them to begin chopping (tree debris)
and with help, observe the helpful production
– while running a chain saw / carrying debris to the curb.
Man! My environment got seriously dusty all of a sudden. Gonna have to hit the eye wash. God bless all the survivors and especially the working ones, like SD and others mentioned in his posts.
I think, it’s that Fall pollen,that got me.😥
yep
I’m new here, but this post from Sundance brought me to tears, because it’s so beautifully true.
Welcome!
Welcome. It’s a wonder place full of very special people.
Welcome…God’s Blessings abound here..
Moving tributes …tears flowing and God Bless you all.
I think Mrs. Vera just helped us all.
Thank you.
We need many more Mrs. Veras to remind us what is most important.
Yes indeed she did. 🙏🏻
I am just so overcome with appreciation for you Sundance, with all that you and your family are going through but still have time to give us these incredible insightful messages. God bless and keep you.
There is beauty and blessings amid all the destruction. Glad you are finding them Sundance. All glory to God!
Amen 🙏🏻
Disgraceful that 6 house insurers have just declared bankruptcy after hurricane Ian!
Are the 6 you’re referring to in addition to those mentioned in the article linked to below?
What Hurricane Ian could mean to Florida’s struggling property insurance industry (tampabay.com)
From the devastation, comes unexpected inspiration. Unimaginable strength of spirit.
Thank you, Sundance. Your update made my day
God’s grace has given this world Ms Vera for 90 years. Perhaps she will go on in all of us now that you have shared her beautiful heart with us. I feel very humbled. Thanks, Sundance.
There are few things in life as beautiful as the passing of a true Christian. When Vera’s time comes it will be a time of coronation. Vera will be finally welcomed home. There is much to be said about when ” The saints come marching”
So much grace and love being discovered.
God Bless and Thank you
Amen brother. A blessing to read indeed.😀
IF I were Miss Veronica I’d be jumping up and down thanking them boys for letting me take a ride on that helicopter. I’d be tellin’ them I always wanted to ride in one, how did I get so lucky?!
And she doesn’t get the open steel box treatment either. Fantastic!
THANK YOU BOYS!!! Keep up the good work and the good spirits. It does a body good.
My friend is there, her and her husband are fine, house is destroyed. There is plenty of help..
I met several Veronica’s in the days I volunteered doing tornado and storm cleanup with Samaritan’s purse. Thank you for saying what I felt and could not find the words.
Strong medicine.
Simply beautiful, and then the reality of our human existence. Still, the Vera’s of the world outshine the evil.
In spite of all the noise, bluster, lies, gaslighting, and overall crap we’re bombarded with every day of our lives, remember there are many more ‘Ms Veronicas’ out there.
Thank you Sundance for highlighting this very special woman.
Just wait until the landscapers get to have their way with SWFL.
When the debris was mostly gone after Hurricane Harvey and the landscapers started working, I knew Houston was back. It will be the same with SWFL.
and it turns out IKE killed many NON_Native species of plants and trees that were infesting Galveston! some good came of IKE.
Beautiful inspirational story and I love the pic with the little boy and his pup saying their prayers.
Retired Magistrate here: Ms. Vera is definitely a survivor. She was born in 1932 during the height of the Great Depression where make do or do without was the motto. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 she was 9 and old enough to understand the threat that the evil Axis was to the United States. After the war there was still rationing until the late 1940’s. When she turned 19 the Korean Conflict (as it was called, really a War) started and lasted until 1953. When she was 28 the Cuban Missile Crisis and threat of atomic conflict with Russia. Then the assassination of JFK, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King when she was in her early 30’s.
In her mid to late 30’s and early 40’s Viet Nam, financial downturns, Watergate, riots, Gulf War, etc., etc. She survived all that and with her current attitude it looks like she thrived because she looked to GOD for her purpose, not the government.
Ms. Vera is truly a survivor; may we all follow in her foot steps and be grateful for what we have: life, loved ones and a GOD who loves us and is not done with us yet.
Did you find a web site with this info? Ms. Veronica’s last name was not given in the article so I wasn’t successful in learning more about her life (Internet searches), but it seems you found some interesting info…
The post says Ms. Veronica is 90 years old. Perhaps Marcia simply “did the math” for all of the events she listed.
Retired Magistrate is simply listing the historical events which occurred when Vera was certain ages. It’s just simple 5th grade math, and a basic knowledge of US history, no trick to it.
Retired Magistrate here: Yes, I just did the math and I have a basic knowledge of U.S. history. Unfortunately, true and accurate U.S. history is not taught anymore. I am 75 and when I went to school U.S. States history was still being taught in schools; not the revisionist history which is being taught now. I also like to read about this country’s founding, the World Wars and U.S. history in general. I love this country even though we certainly have our problems right now. Don’t know of any other country where a “hill jack” like myself, through hard work could achieve her dreams and be successful.
I pray every day that GOD will restore us to our constitutional roots.
Likewise, Retired Magistrate. I’ll turn 58 in a month but fortunately my two children were mostly through school and well into college before the “wokes” took over the indoctrination effort. Although sadly they were taught global warming is 100% fact and a few other things which I have not been able to dissuade them of.
It’s difficult to have any hope for the former US of A at this stage but I pray we are not yet too far around the bend to make recovery impossible. In any event, your post about Vera was very good, as per usual for your posts on CTH. Keep up the great work…
We have three Daughters and 4 Grand kids with 2 on the way and the youngest is just having her first . These are all conservative intelligent women and wonderful mothers . We as a family will try to keep them that way . One home schools .
I am so deeply grateful that my daughter in law is home schooling my four grandchildren AND using a Christian curriculum guide. I only had one child.
I always hated history. But, I am reading with a different view about an ancestor who figured large in the American Revolution. My dad was in WW2 and Korea. I’m 68 and we learned Florida history. Most of it I have forgotten, but, this lovely state has belonged to several nations.
We have a home on Amelia Island FL..The Isle of 8 flags, the island is the only place in America where eight different flags have flown….French 1562-1564, Spanish 1565-1763 and 1783-1821, British 1763 to 1783,Patriots 1812, Green Cross 1817, National flag of the Confederacy 1861-1862 and United States 1862 to present.
Ms Vera is two years younger than my late mother..My mom told me countless storied about those days of hardship and struggling..they were not sad stories, just filled with rich memories of her childhood, her loving parents who I never met, her meeting my dad in his navy uniform in 1944..
Marcia didn’t delve into Ms. Veronica’s personal life. What we read was what anyone 90 years old today would have lived through during their life.
“I am also smart enough to stay silent.”
I’m always working on that.
But ,
My Dad is 96 soon to be 97.
Last survivor of 10 kids.
Growing up on a farm in Kansas through the dust bowl and the great depression he knows about hard work .
Reading Sundance makes me want to visit ,sit, and listen.
I ask simple questions and listen.
It’s good for both of us.
Yes. We have all gone soft in this modern world with our cell phones, computers,vacuum cleaners etc
And in so doing we have forgotten our basic human kindness.
God is everywhere. All we have to do is open our hearts and minds to see his mighty work and feel His everlasting love for us all. It’s the greatest feeling on earth as has been so eloquently demonstrated by Sundance’s words here.
Surely the Holy Spirit is working through you Sundance to be a witness of His profound love and mercy to share with all who will listen. Thank you and may we all be equally blessed. Stay safe!
kf, I agree with you on all accounts!
Thank you sundance; God has blessed you.
Years ago I learnt the difference between a survivor and a victim. I am always a survivor and not a victim. I tell anyone who will listen that it’s the better option because of your future. Survivors work hard and fight. Victims ‘deserve’ to be given stuff. Survivors will gain wealth and victims will just get by. Not just with money, but with everything, especially mental health.
My recent story is that I am a survivor of the covid evils, not a victim. And I have my stories – we all do. It’s what we do next that counts!
Goodaye Rach, amen to that!
Many victims make other victims. Survivors do not do that. They move on in spite of all the wrongs, all the hardships and make a life that honors God.
My favorite scripture text about the Seas as follows :
.
Job 38 : 8 – 11
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9
when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10
when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?
.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=NIV
A surprise book based on the Job – The Gospel According to Job – Mike Mason
Can’t recommend it highly enough.
It has LOTS of chapters, each of which is only two pages long.
Makes for slow, thoughtful reading–daily or otherwise.
I love this one and if I can truly mean it then I am in the right place
The Lord giveth and The Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:21
And the Lord returns things in even greater abundance.
Thank you for perspective correction.
We all occasionally need to be nudged back to what matters.
I was just thinking the same thing. I needed this reality check.
My power came back on today. My father’s condo came back on Sunday. Incredible effort by the power guys. Gas lines are already disappearing. A lot of the traffic signals are operating. Anyone foolish enough to remain on a barrier island is either very lucky or in a body bag or still unrecovered. My sister has a friend who was freaking out in Matlacha as the water was rising. Managed to survive. A friend of mine unable to evacuate for legal reasons sent a video during the storm of the water a few feet below his second story apartment, his car underwater. Might have to house him a while.
The two people I know with homes on Sanibel are homeless. One is spearheading relief efforts for our church ward. A small neighborhood on the north side of the river I have many clients in was virtually destroyed, probably 75% unlivable, a lot of homeless people there. Besides the newly homeless however, everyone faired pretty well and is helping in the recovery effort. I spent the past five days, helping tarp roofs, clearing debris, and hauling water and supplies to elderly. Nothing else to do although work is already returning to normal. I took a chance last night and found KFC down the street open and got my first hot meal in a bit. My most harrowing experience through it all was Saturday morning as my mountain dew was getting too warm in my Yeti. Showing up for an 8 am work crew rewarded me with a bag of ice to start my day and all was well with the world again.
Been sleeping with all the doors and windows open with the beautiful weather and my handgun right beside me on the nightstand. Two deputy sheriffs across the street doesn’t hurt, one retired and one active with a marked vehicle usually in the driveway.
Found in the bin… 🙁
my mountain dew was getting too warm in my Yeti. Showing up for an 8 am work crew rewarded me with a bag of ice to start my day and all was well with the world again.
That’s great….and sometimes a bag of ice is all it takes to conquer the next two feet!
Ms Veronica is indeed wise.
But in your silence, you were wise as well, Sundance.
It is no small thing to recognize when silence is a more potent response than words. There is an art to truly listening and not just hearing or speaking.
I imagine that it is as much needed by people facing their losses in Florida as the bountiful, selfless help which is being offered.
You? Shrinking?? I think not, good sir.
My Goodness!
Ms.Vera sounds exactly like my Great Grandmom! Great Grandmom passed away at 97 years old.
A God fearing Steel Magnolia!
This brought back memories of my being in Mobile Alabama when Camille hit.
Bless her heart! My heart has a smile.
Stay safe Sundance…..
Thank you for their stories.
I was in Mississippi when Camille hit. We went to a shelter somewhere. I remember being in the eye. Driving the roads after.
The Democrat Party loves VICTIMS. To them, everybody is a victim.
Victims are in need. If you can paint one as a victim, you can sell them what you’re selling.
The existence of victim implies the existence of villian. Arise the victim, you’ll be shown the villian.
Ordinarily, one does not think themselves a victim, they must be made aware. Them who do are they who decide who is the villian.
Favortism and division is the name of the victim game. Who benefits but the puppet master.
God has blessed Miss Veronica and unto us all.
And what is the Secret of a good salesman? Find out what the customer (victim) needs, and sell (supply) it to them!
So many stories of small or large bravery and the personal ethics that made this country great: hard work, helping others, unbending before the knocks and devastations of life; just pick up where you are and keep going ahead.
Okay, you inspired me. The trash in the yard is taking me days to rake and pick up, doing about 1/5 of the yard a day. I wasn’t going to work on it today after everything else I’ve done, but thinking about all that you in Florida are having to do, I raked and hauled several wheel barrows full this evening. Thanks. But even better, it is its own reward to get the yard clear.
I quit with the rake and the wagon. I rolled the trash can onto the yard under oaks and quit when I filled it up. I left the leaves and pine needles.
Why do I love Sundance when he makes me cry ?
Beautifully Done! As of today I am adopting Ms. Veronica’s philosophy for each day I wake up.
Who’s cutting onions?
“Vera” means “Faith”.
This evening on the eve of the most holiest of Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur, it is customary to light a Yahrzeit candle in honor of those who have passed away to always remember them. I lit two this year. One for my mother who passed away 22 years ago and one for those who have passed away due to Hurricane Ian.
Where did they find that museum quality Enstrom?
I thought DeSantis said, “you loot, we shoot”. Too bad one of the couple didn’t stand armed at the car while the other one went in to check the house. Had they done that, nothing would have been stolen and no need to shoot anyone.
These are the moments (in inspirational words and
the storytelling of such times) that stay with you forever, and change you fully.
We have all been touched by Ms Veronica now…and so grateful to have been so.
💕
Thanks for sharing this excellent reminder. Keep walking the path, learn, share and help.
That was some great insight about our Creator, Sundance. I couldn’t have kept my mouth shut long enough to discover those truths. No wonder you almost always get to the truth by focusing only on the facts. I have learned from this. God has blessed you. Thank you.
Animal rescue doesn’t get a lot of attention during natural disasters, but worth noting the compassionate efforts of those on th1e ground in Florida and across the country coordinating these rescues 24/7. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, we thank you and Godspeed! http://www.bfas.org
❤️
It appears that you have just been awarded your Masters Degree in Humanity today, Sundance,… from Dean Veronica.
No Victims,… I luv it.
Thank you for this update. Mrs Veronica is such a special person. She is so right – There are dead and there are survivors. My prayers go out for you and all the other survivors down there. All my family that live there are ok. God Bless You SD.
I want to meet Ms. Veronica. Our neighbors had a beautiful purple butterfly plant. On our walks, our grand daughter age 5, always commented on how pretty it is and how fast it grew. Three days ago, on our walk, she saw what the wind had done and how sad it was the most of the blooms were gone. I thought about the vineyard and the pruning to make it more beautiful and useful and explained how this happened. She thanked God for the pruning. Out of the mouths of babies! The electricity is back on and she is back to VPK. We’ll walk again and see it stronger and more beautiful. She may become the next Ms. Veronica. And a witness to those thieves.
When my daughter was in college she went to New Orleans to help home owners clean up after Katrina with a group of other students during spring break. Spending a couple weeks with Ms. Veronica is a learning experience that young people could not learn in a university.
A friend from New Orleans who owns a few rental properties there told me after their last hurricane is that the most important part of home recovery is to control moisture and prevent later mold problems. His first project is to seal roof damage and control leaks, then get rid of wet sheet rock and carpet while treating for mold.
Your friend is absolutely correct. Also, it is salt water and highly corrosive to all metals. Some of it gets into outlets.
Here in the Midwest, after tornado’s and bad straight line wind storms I’ve seen the same thing: People who do NOT live in the damaged community come out of the wood work and claim to be ‘scrappers’ when in fact they are looters. Only thing that works – armed patrols.
“God’s Prophets“ ordinarily do not announce themselves as such …
… but there are also other people, “such as Sundance, who have themselves been given access to A Mighty Horn,” who are able to recognize them, and to speak of them.
I, gonna get some old pictures of my Grandma out and take time to reflect where i come from and how i need to be . That woman is just as strong and resolute as my Dad Mother . lost a husband to TB in a sanitarium out west and rode the train back home with three kids under 7 years and spouse in a coffin in the rear cars .
\
Sitting outside wearing a jacket… the evening light is gone, it’s dark.
Having read Sundance’s 6th day recovery earlier, I didn’t have time to comment or read others’.
So, now here, sitting in the dark I have been reading.
The neighbor is grilling dinner with his wife and toddler daughter; smells so dang good!
And I am thinking about Sundance and Dinty Moore stew…. I am thinking about all those suffering …. loss… ….the dead and the survivors.
This song starts to play over the fence:
“how is it I can help you boys”
Reminds me of something
my grandma would say.
Excellent. Thank you, Patience. 🇺🇸
Stunningly beautiful in sound, sight, and sensibility. Thank you Patience. Your post and music wove together beautifully with Sundance’s very personal and riveting remarks in today’s update.
Sundance, you must be beyond exhausted – which makes your daily updates so particularly poignant . Thank you for the trust you have placed in us. It is a gift of immeasurable value.
Vaya con Diós, Señor Sundance, nuestro tesoro de amigo. Y cuídese bien.
Qué Diós bendiga todo lo bueno hecho en Nombre de Él Mismo.
Amen
Been raining here since Friday night, over 5″ in 5 days as Ian is parked off our coast. At 7pm a nearby transformer blew itself off the pole and out went the lights. It has given me some much needed time to reflect quietly and empathize with the Floridians right now.
It’s powerful-pensive.
-Blessings