Some have said that my appreciation for the state of Florida borders on obsession rather than admiration and affection. This might be true. I do love the state, and think it is one the better ones in the union.
But as I drove to Melbourne, FL from Louisiana last Thursday something funny happened. If you paid attention to the weather in the Southeast at all last week, you may have heared that a big low went through from Texas to the east coast. It rained profusely. I left New Orleans Thursday morning, and as soon as I made it to the Louisiana/Mississippi border it began to rain. Not only did it rain, it stormed. Did it just storm? No. There was 40 MPH winds, lighting, hail, everything. It was crazy. I think it was the worst storm I ever drove through (with the exception of Hurricane Ivan in 2004). At one point, I was on I-10 driving about 30 MPH! I couldn't see for hours. It was horrible. I just wanted the storm to end, for it to get quiet, and me to drive the speed limit.
Yet, as I approached the Alabama/Florida border, I experienced a relief. As soon as I crossed into the 27th state something happened. The rain stopped. Sure it sprinkled here and there. But it was like the clouds parted and there was a little light from the sun behind the many large clouds. As I crossed into Florida I thought to myself that this was significant. It stopped raining as soon as I got here. It was like God was saying, "You are home." Even if it had not been raining, once I get to Florida, things always just seem better. And maybe, just maybe, God turned the water off just so my obsession/appreciation would continue.
Maybe it's not that weird after all.
1 comment:
I'm glad you made it in one piece - and what a great welcome you got :)
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