Dear friends, several people have made inquiry about my sporadic posting in the past week+ and asking if everything is okay. While I generally do not discuss facets of challenges that are of a more personal level, here’s the essence.
The post hurricane recovery process is exceptionally challenging and difficult. There’s so much to rebuilding an entire community, economy and social system in the aftermath of such damage; it’s almost too encompassing to explain.
Previously, as I worked in the aftermath of disaster, I always enjoyed the benefit of leaving after the first several phases of recovery were addressed.
This is not that.
Even the smallest life detail can be difficult when everything is in turmoil. My roof was structurally repaired by professionals about two weeks ago; I no longer have a tarp. However, now the work inside begins against the backdrop of shortages of materials and workers. If you don’t have buckets of cash to burn to go live somewhere else while you hire a contractor to do the work, essentially you end up in the role of a contractor yourself.
Living while this is happening is a series of complex challenges, I’ll explain.
Each night you empty a room into the garage. The next day workers show up to work on that area. When they finish, you then put all the stuff back inside (nighttime), and then empty the next room or area into the garage. This sequence continues as you go from room to room. Empty it the night before, workers do repairs, at night put the stuff back, then empty the next room etc. If a sub gets pulled away, or if a supply item is short, you have to refigure the plan on the fly.
Essentially, it’s a 24-hr a day operation and physically exhausting. When I get ahead, I jump online and try to catch up on what is going on, then update with analysis etc. On top of this is a loving God who never gives us more than we can handle, yet recently seems to have a higher opinion of my ability and capability than I do of myself – especially as He timed ‘Operation Sunlight‘ into the mix of literal life groundwork.
It’s almost over, and I smile skyward at discovering that He, as always, was right. And yes, through gritted teeth I will admit I am capable of dealing with it. There is a great story to be told for real lessons in the aftermath of how to deal with severe chaos and national disaster. Consider it “Recovery for Dummies” that I would have willingly purchased if someone had told me how faceted, complex and seriously long-term this is.
I totally understand why so many thousands of people just pulled up roots and moved away. I hold no judgement or negative opinion of anyone who looked at the horizon and saw nothing but overwhelming stress.
In the aftermath of a major national disaster, there is a stark realization that life changes dramatically, even the most mundane of tasks hits snags and becomes exponentially challenging. Yes, even for those who are life-skilled, capable and self-sufficient (in the most general sense). No joking when I say, the coping mechanism is to look only at the two feet around you, and not at the scale of what you are trying to accomplish.
There are many thousands of people in worse shape than me, and I consider myself abundantly blessed and thankful to be a survivor and not a victim. There are many more who have no support system around them and no immediate fellowship to assist. Those people need prayers, constant vigilant prayer, and hopefully as the capable group encounter the opportunity from those in need, they will stop, reevaluate, postpone their self-objective if needed and assist.
Unfortunately, in this type of situation, there are fewer people who do the pausing and reevaluation, and even fewer still who can stay on task and proactively work a step-by-step plan that creates the opportunity to pause and assist. You guys know what I am talking about, but you are a select group of thinkers.
So yeah, I’m ok. God is a loving God, who is putting me in the right place at the right time, with the right skills and providing me with a profound purpose. And if I start to get a little upset about being given such purpose, He finds a way to guide my head, painfully, into a not yet fully opened garage door right in the middle of my angered disposition.
I have discovered that God has a way of literally knocking sense into me, while simultaneously telling me to slow down and cherish the abundant purpose.
Love to all. Steadfast,
Sundance
ps. These two memes would be the forward and prologue to my “Recovery for Dummies” short story….
I’m amazed at how often and quickly you get analysis of the goings on in this clown show we are in. It’s not easy keeping up with all the signals and not noise that change daily-sometimes hourly. Knowing you are still able to do that given your life situation is even more amazing. It’s definitely divine intervention giving you the strength to get through these trying times. May God continue to bless you and guide you.
Royal kick in the derrière!
Wishing you the best during this stressful, exhausting time. Prayers!🙏
Thank you for all you do. Your analyses and commentary are some of the best I have read.
All good to you and your family.
Yes, thank you so much for all you do Sundance.
Do not worry too much about the Treehouse, we Treepers will hold down the fort as bet we can and wait for you until you can get back here.
God Bless you and your family.
Living on the coast in Florida is a dream…until something happens.
Bless you and take care, SD.
Many, many ongoing prayers for you, your family and all in SW Florida. For those of use in other parts of the country and even the state, it is easy to forget that the struggle continues and will for a long time.
The exhausting, seemingly endless physical toll is one aspect. The disruption of life is another. The mental aspect is salt in the wound. I lived on a sliver of land in the FL Panhandle when Opal chewed away our paradise. I think Ian made Opal look like a tropical storm, but even still I remember the disorienting, emotional toll of seeing my world turned upside down and inside out and knowing that ‘home’, as I knew it, would never be the same.
I’ve been following you long enough to know you are a survivor and a ‘glass half full’ kind of person. I will pray that it will all get better and better, all sooner than later. And, I hope it all gets easier -every aspect of the aftermath.
Thanks for keeping us updated on your storm recovery and thanks for always finding time to keep us informed on so much else that is happening in our world.
Sundance, I have not forgotten that you were also very ill shortly before the BIG STORM hit. Having been through the China/Fauci Viruses I cannot imagine dealing with both recoveries at the same time. I hope you are pacing yourself. Much Love and Prayers Always!
Wow, I had forgotten all about that also TwoLaine-President.
Very important to take care of yourself Sundance while you are trying to fix your place.
Don’t forget the loss of “Rado Thomas”… Just another kick in the gut when I’m pretty sure it was least needed. My little guy was ‘promoted to kitty glory’ only 10 days later and, although not unexpected, I had forgotten how bad it hurts to the core. And when they choose us, out of all the people in the world (as I’ve told my strays of my past), it is just all the more special of a relationship.
Thanks for sharing. Reading this it makes me even more angry at our politicians, and especially Ron who lives in Florida, who send billions of dollars to Ukraine all the while turning their backs on American citizens.
The Gov. of FL. sent $$$ to Ukraine? LINK????? Get the link if you have one, please.
Otherwise, be careful of making stuff up, cuz you’re not helping Trump when you do.
He did a pretty great job post hurricane here>>> one of the reasons even Dems flipped to vote for him.
I think the comment refers to some votes that DeSantis made while in Congress. His support while governor has been rhetorical not financial and has been less crazy than lots of Republicans. Never the less, if he is going to run for President, he is going to have to address the issue.
Great bookends of recovery memes. Sending prayers for God’s Grace & long distance hugs for the soul. You are not alone.
Godspeed SD.
Hang in there Sundance. Sounds like you have it under control. I know you will get it done.
Oh ugh. And here I was thinking you had something interesting and maybe even somewhat entertaining going on (!).
Went thru this kind of thing some years back and …..ICK! Getting a bit bent out of shape just thinking about it.
Glad it’s almost done!!! It’s gonna feel So. Good. to get back to “normal”! Congrats on a job well done!
Thank you for the eloquent reminder.
What makes each of us ordinary beings extraordinary, is the purpose He has us fulfill.
Sundance,
I loved this article and video that you posted. It was super inspiring to think that this is the real America and it still exists. If I were in Florida I would come lend a hand. I hope some Florida Treepers come to help you. Maybe a donation will help.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/10/20/a-tribute-to-git-r-done/
And I really like this:
“So whenever any kind of disaster strikes, or something goes seriously “wrong” — illness, disability, loss of home or fortune or of a socially defined identity, breakup of a close relationship, death or suffering of a loved one, or your own impending death — know that there is another side to it, that you are just one step away from something incredible: a complete alchemical transmutation of the base metal of pain and suffering into gold. That one step is called surrender.
I do not mean to say that you will become happy in such a situation. You will not. But fear and pain will become transmuted into an inner peace and serenity that come from a very deep place — from the Unmanifested itself. It is “the peace of God, which passes all understanding….”
Eckhart Tolle
Author of The Power of Now
Agree B. Woodward.
Treehouse gold re-pasted here:
“Damn good people at that.
People who represent what makes our nation unique. The invisible, salty, mostly scruffy and beautifully comfortable about it, yet critical network of blue-collar crews that keeps it all operating. God, how I cherish them so.
At the core of our American purpose is a decency and unity. Critics don’t like to talk about it, but American workers are fundamentally good. When something seems impossible, for blue-collar Americans ‘impossible‘ is just another starting point, if you get out of the way. Don’t lose sight of that.
No other nation on earth was ever conceived on the principle of allowing people to manifest their own destiny, while keeping government out of their lives. The vision, the premise and the purpose, was to allow you the freedom to determine your place in life; and even, at any time, change that determination and strike off in an entirely new direction.
Our labor and aspirations would not be pre-determined by caste, tier, creed or social status; but rather by our personal vision for our own future. The right of self-determination.
This election is a time to reflect on the value of work; the great personal benefit of endeavors achieved; the pride in accomplishment -regardless of scale- amid this thing we call life; and all of these considerations have absolutely nothing, not-one-thing, to do with the money we assemble in the process.
What is the current value of a former seed that became a tree nurtured toward its continued maturity over decades? What was that seed worth at the time it was planted? We can only see the value in hindsight many years later. What value lay in the blood at Fort McHenry?
The job, per se’, was simple. Hold the flagpole in place. Keep that representative flag held high, no matter the cost. And yet, that cost, my God THAT COST, could it ever be quantified appropriately? A simple yet consequential task that expressed the fullest measure of devotion to the underlying premise, freedom.
America!”
Unleash the kraken! Unleash the people!
President Trump’s answer!
Sundance captures it in these paragraphs
Good time to make a contribution to the CTH coffers? Yes!
Now THAT is a great suggestion! 👍🏼
YES – We can help !
Thank for the update on your life circumstance Sundance. Gives me great pain to read of it all. Through the telling of your agony, and really that is what it is, I remember my own Father who saw the fifty some years he put into creating the landscape of his dreams wiped out in about five minutes during the first F5 tornado in the US that went through the back yard. I have a bitterness inside me about all of that and what those events did to his spirit.
You are in my prayers, and thank you for reminding that you need them. God bless and keep you and yours.
May the BLESSED GOD OF HEAVEN be with you, stengthen you and shower you with His unending love.
May your faith and resilience carry you thru this long hard slog.
Hopng the day will come when you can glimpse evidence of the gradual return of the life you love in your beloved piece of Florida.
Bless you, Sundance. And thank you for sharing. You described, perfectly, what I have experienced in situations in my life but have never put into words.
Prayers for you to see this through.
And, as always, thank you for all you do.
God Bless You and Yours Brother!
What our most gracious host is leaving for the between the lines is–the insurance company approved contractors “subs”
all wear jeans with a 24″ inseam and are still paying off the coyote.
FJB
Take care… we’re not getting younger.
It’s all about a positive attitude.. and sometimes, go outside, yell your lungs out for a while, take a few deep breaths and come back inside.
It worked for me during the three plus years of construction.. my wife didn’t want to move out… so we moved around the house as it got rebuilt.
Oh well, we’ll have stories to tell.
Thank you for the update!
Prayers for you and gratitude for you come from me daily. I am thankful for the spirit of the Treepers here, the encouragement, the truth, and thankful for the Truth. The Word become Flesh.
Though I don’t think I have touched any of you knowingly in the actual flesh, your presence, interaction, and existence gives me hope and optimism.
Thank you for sharing the humanity of your reality: your illness, your storm recovery, and your steadfast ability to continue giving.
Here is a poem written by Jennifer Weeks Brown that resonates with what you wrote, Sundance:
Encouragement
Is it possible
That even when our hearts are breaking
We might look outward?
That we can wake up in the morning
So achingly tired,
Discouraged to near brokenness
Yet, is it possible?
To still move through the day
Even when no one knows
We had to start by crawling
Before even thinking of speaking
Those “Good Mornings”?
Is it possible
That the near-impossible push
We barely think is left within us
Might be the very thing
That lifts another fallen comrade?
That even in our own brokenness,
We might pour the balm of hope over another
On the brink of giving up?
When you gaze into your mirror
In the earliest day,
Bleary-eyed, achingly tired
And so certain there is no worthwhile reason
To push through another day here
Please
Push through another day.
When you feel your worst,
Give the very encouragement you long to receive
To someone else instead
Then maybe even another
Don’t do it for any return
Seeking trophies of recognition
Will only make us bitter
Do it for the
Intangible trophies
Of kindness you’ve planted
Remembering always that seeds start very small
Before growing into trees of greatness
The seeds you sow in your treatment of others
May be delayed by years, through their memories,
Fruition you may never live to see
From compassion you offered
When you thought you had nothing
Of any value to give
Never underestimate
Your ability to leave a mark
Of goodness on a weary world
If only you knew, it is not by showy grandiosity
But by personal connections from the heart
The very gift unique to you alone,
Your reason to live another day,
The power within you
To change the world
jwb
Hang in there. You may be exhausted but you provide so much inspiration to many. Thank you for your wisdom. You are much appreciated.
Here’s another poem I read from time to time.
The Weaver
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colours
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.
— Grant Colfax Tullar
We are better people for having your presence in our lives. Thank you and Bless you, Sundance.
Those two memes say it ALL, Sundance. You take care of yourself and family FIRST. Everything else WILL come together in time. Thank you for your insight, sure helps me!
May God give you the courage and strength you need.
Thank you for all of your research and writing.
Thank you for this Refuge.
Thank you for being who you are. You are a real gift to this world.
Thanks for the update Sundance. Your description of coping with a natural disaster is right on. I know whereof you speak.
We live in a 100 year old house in the Virginia Piedmont. Our kitchen water pipes burst when VA temperatures dropped to 5° for two nights in December. The pipe burst at 11:30 on Christmas Eve and a plumber wasn’t able to respond until 36 hours later. We are still tripping over pot’s, pans and food stored in every room of the house. My wife has not been able to cook since before Christmas other than microwave meals and the odd hot dog. We do have fresh vegetables, milk and cereal and we get by, but hopefully the reconstruction work will be over before Spring arrives.
God Bless you and Menagerie and thank you for the work you continue to perform keeping the Treepers informed.
Joseph…I’ve noticed your comments are continually being held for moderation. This is NOT because you are on any list. I recently discovered that the use of an “apostrophe” in one’s username will cause our spam filter to hold your name in moderation. It is unable to read the alphanumerics once it hits the apostrophe. I’ve been asking others to drop the apostrophe…two have done so, and they no longer have a problem. Please consider! 🙂
Thank you for the advice. Where do I go to adjust my profile?
Just type in your username (without the apostrophe) next time to make a comment. You will seen as a new commenter and ergo be initially moderated, but one of us will let you at asap, and that should be the end of it!
The Lord bless you Sundance, and thank you for letting us know what all you’ve been going through. I’m glad you can still stay there, even if its really hard right now. I think that if this had happened to us (me and my wife) we would have no choice but to try to find somewhere to go.
When I’m reading what you wrote, it reminds me; I was down in Homestead for a few weeks after Hurricane Andrew. I had hitchhiked from Montana; it took about three weeks to get there, including a stop-over in eastern Oklahoma to call on an old friend for a couple days. I got rides all the way to New Orleans, and then ran into a fella who was going to the same place as me to see if he could find work, so I went with him. When we got there, we hooked up with an Electrical Contractor, and slept on the job-site, in the unfinished buildings. But after a few weeks of doing that, I was able to connect with a Christian man I’d met, who gave me a ride from the Little Bighorn all the way to Denver, who lived in West Palm Beach. He had a son who was a carpenter in Boca Raton and gave me some work doing some new residential construction. Anyway, too long story . . . I just wanted to say, I have a little idea what you are going through right now. It’ll be alright; the Lord is with you, and He will make sure you’re taken care of, and your family.
May God bless you and give you strength, humor and grace for each day’s work, walk and tasks.
We went through a similar difficult year–two flooded houses, totaled car, tree fell on (renovated) house, refrigerator caught on fire…but we got through despite demanding jobs, child rearing, etc. In our case we didn’t have to manage through the difficult supply issues that you are handling.
Hang in there! Always amazed at your graciousness and your razor sharp analysis.
God bless, guard, and guide you and all similarly situated, SD. Your description of the process/ordeal brought post-Katrina memories roaring back. I admit I had some disdain for senior neighbors who didn’t return and rebuild, but now, at the age they were and still with some rooms that need the garage turnover treatment, I have to repent of that hubris. Recovery is hard, marathon work. May God give you strength to get through it and to continue to be the light you have been to all of us out here on the outer branches.
That’s a good report, Sundance…a good report about hard things. Consider yourself hugged.
God Bless; Thanks for your words of wisdom.
I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow
Words: John Newton, 1779
Music: O Waly, Waly, Scottish traditional tune
1. I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and ev’ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face.
2. ’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.
3. I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And by His love’s constraining pow’r
Subdue my sins and give me rest.
4. Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.
5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Humbled my heart, and laid me low.
6. “Lord, why is this,” I, trembling, cried;
“Will Thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith
7. “These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set you free,
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may’st find your all in Me.”
A very good friend told me she wanted this song, “Row,Row, Row your Boat”played at her funeral because it’s how she has tried to live her life.and i also believe it is a great daily reminder “ForDummies” of how to move forward in life,
– keeping going, stay focused, have a positive outlook and try to keep things in perspective.
Row Row Row Your Boat’ has just one stanza, with four lines:
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
Let’s do a shout out for Sundance 😉 -maybe he will hear us! Praying for you Sundance 🙏
Sending prayers and love across the miles Sundance ♡♡♡
Take care of yourself and know that we appreciate your fact finding research
and insightful commentary.
Thanks for the nude Sundance. I completely forgot about the tragedy. Will start praying again for year, family, and the other victims of the hurricane. Thanks for the treehouse and all you do.
My daily prayers include those dealing with the aftereffects of devastating natural disasters.
I am very humbled that in spite of everything you are going through personally right now you still find ways to give to all of us here.
You rock, Sundance!
God bless!
Oh man, I have been through things that I thought would kill me and it’s only in hindsight that I can see the hand of God in everything. Putting one foot in front of the other is sometimes all you can do. I am stronger for it, more thankful, and more at peace that my loving Savior is truly in charge. My heart goes out to you. I will more earnestly pray for your strength.
Thank you for the update. Godspeed Sundance.
Good luck with your rebuilding. I am in Punta Gorda, Fl. We just got our roof replacement about two weeks ago as well. There is light beginning to appear for us. You too will soon see the bright lights and days ahead. Thank you for your wisdom and insight these past umpteen years and for many yrs to come.
Beautiful sentiments. Thank you, Sundance.
Oh man that’s tough. The damage you sustained involves water, water means mildew, I know you know this, take the time to get it right.
Prayers up for you brother.
I love you so much! Thank you for sharing your insight and inspiration with us all. God Bless you! Namaste. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
P.S. Your beautiful posts about your living faith helped Big League to bring me to realize how wonderful it is to love God and serve him by helping others. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Treehouse is my 1st read in the morning. I praise God for your steadfast work.
James 2-
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I became exhausted just reading what you are going through. I can’t imagine what it is like for those who have even more on their plate.
Prayers for all and Thanks.