When we moved to Omaha in 1994, I told Jan that I thought it was going to be fun living so close to a major river. I even thought I might take up fishing again, although I never got around to it. Those early days here were just too busy with ministry and other employment and teenage daughters. There wasn’t much spare time.
Then along came the digital camera and I was hooked by the photo bug.
When I started taking pictures, life on the river gained added value. There are so many pretty places nearby, and Jan and I have gone to most of them many times for walks and to take pictures. Places like Boyer Chute, Dodge Park, Haworth Park, DeSoto Bend, Wilson Island, Indian Cave State Park, and Omaha’s Downtown Riverfront have all been wonderful places for us to visit time and again.
Today all those places are underwater. Here are some pictures (not taken by me) of how it looked around here yesterday.
The troubles along the Missouri are just beginning to make the national news, but we in the Midlands started to hear about it back in May. Very heavy snow and rain in locations upriver were stressing the reservoirs and dams. Extra water would have to be released or the dams themselves would break. That turns out to be record-breaking extra water – at a rate more than twice what has ever been necessary in the past.
Jan and I live a little more than a mile from the river, as the crow flies. We are about 14 feet above “normal” river level. Our neighborhood is protected by a levee that was built to protect from flash floods, but is untested against extended high water (the river will be above flood stage at least until fall, maybe longer). Should the levee fail, there will be 4-6 feet of water on the ground here. And, of course, in the buildings.
To say the least, these are rather tense days. Next week Jan and I plan to move some of our belongings to higher ground. We’ve canceled our vacation this summer. We always look forward to seeing our friends and relatives back east, but there’s just too much risk involved to leave our belongings and our work here unattended.
Living this way is very strange. One minute you’re planning for the future and the next minute you’re wondering what the future holds. I think I have never felt the responsibility of the pastorate as heavily as I do now. Seldom have I felt my responsibility as a husband as heavily as I do now. It’s very strange.
We are people of faith. Jan and I are convinced that God will see us through whatever is ahead and that He will care for us well. And He will.
So would you pray for us?
Will definitely keep you and Jan in my prayers.
Definitely praying! Thanks for sharing.
Hey, my friend! Am keeping you in my prayers. It is usually in these situations that God likes to reveal a greater depth of Himself to us. Sometimes it’s a new road ahead and sometimes it’s a new energy to go down the road that’s always been there.
Whenever I hear someone say things like “it’s very strange”, I am reminded of how “strange” it is to be a pilgrim. We look for a city whose builder and maker is God.
You are a great example of faith and faithfulness.
PS. I love the picture at the top of the blog! We need to get you over here to take some pics for us (-:
God bless.
We’ll definitely be praying for both of you and your flock. The uncertainty of the future is so difficult at times like this. So thankful you’re in God’s hands.
Praying for you. May you be encouraged in the love of God and strengthened to persevere as Christ himself did. Love you guys. Suzanne Doriot in Dallas.