As Hurricane Harvey impacts the state of Texas, we are praying for all the residents. But even as the residents of Texas face a very real, potentially life threatening storm, I am reminded that many of us face a Harvey at some point in our lives.
When you look at the meaning of the name Harvey, it is French derived and means battle worthy. Fitting for a hurricane that is predicted to hang around for a while dropping torrential rains in the area and fitting for the storms you and I might face at times in our lives.
My Harvey was the death of my father in 2015. Not much later, I was fired from my job. These two events left me stunned, but like a hurricane, life wasn’t finished yet. Because of getting fired, I had to file for bankruptcy, followed by an audit from the IRS. All of that is most nearly a definition of a perfect storm in anybody’s book. Remember, Harvey came ashore as a Category 4 Hurricane. The worst is a Category 5 storm.
But, here’s the thing—the way you weather a storm like Harvey can depend on how prepared you are. Riding out life’s storms can depend on your preparation as well—whether you are walking in purpose and whether you pass the Purpose Litmus Test—the five “I Knows”
- I Know Who I Am
- I Know What I do
- I Know Who I Serve
- I Know What they Want
- I Know How They Are Transformed
You see, when you have a firm grip on these I Knows, it’s as if you have shuttered your windows and even sometimes, temporarily relocated, against personal damage from the storm.
Our lives are very much like the weather. Some days are beautiful, sunny and calm. Pleasant by anyone’s definition. Other days can be cloudy and just a little threatening.
And then on other occasions when the weather can be stormy with challenges like lightning and wind to face. Scary!
But then, unfortunately, there are those rare times when our lives are like Hurricane Harvey—a Category 4 filled with wind, rain, lightning, floods, flying debris—you name it.
Your goal is to survive with minimal damage. When you walk in purpose, it is easier to weather the storms. And what’s best? After a Hurricane like Harvey, the sun will eventually emerge again and the day will be even brighter than before. After all, the sun never went anywhere, it was just obscured by all the clouds and likewise, the sunshine in our lives is obscured by the challenges.
When you walk in purpose—when you have your five “I Knows” firmly fixed—the days after the storm will be brighter than before.
Listen to the advice of knowledgable people who can help you weather the storms. They can tell you when to seek higher ground and stay safe. Just as you listen to the advice of the meteorologists, listen to the advice of coaches and counselors. They can help you navigate through life’s storms until you can walk in the sunshine once again.
If you want to know more about the five I Knows, look for the coming release of my new book. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way.
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Photo: Getty Images
Great analogy