My friends and I left New Smyrna Beach this morning and headed home, tired and worn out, full of delicious shrimp and multitudes of snacks, our hearts full of happy joyous memories. The ocean was so beautiful when we left, white capped waves pounding the beach with the rhythm of nature’s heartbeat, clouds in blues and grays and whites sailing across the aqua blue sky like an armada of warships. I turned around for one more look at the beach as I got in the car and in a wondrously brief moment watched the sun beam through the clouds and turn the ocean’s surface the color of sterling silver, perfectly beautiful as the water shimmered like sequins. Hard to believe this heart beat of the earth will support the furiousness of Hurricane Milton. I pray for the safety of all in its path.

A friend in Florida sent me this prayer tonight —

“Prayer to St. Medard — St. Medard, patron saint for protection against bad storms, we ask you to intercede for us during the storms of our lives as well as the storms in nature. Protect our families and our homes. We pray for assistance for the victims of snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Loving God, send in more helpers, and multiply resources and supplies for aid of those in need. You calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee; deliver us from the storms that are raging around us now. St. Medard, pray for us. Amen.”

Prayers to all suffering through storms. The sun will return tomorrow and the healing will begin.

“If the sky had no tears, the world would have no rainbows.” — Matshona Dhliwayo