Griffin Speaks

A HURRICANE TO REMEMBER

I don’t know about you, but I feel as though I have been whipped with a wet noodle. My lights were out for several days and all of my food spoiled. Hurricane Ivan humbled me.

The most important phone calls I made were to Alabama Power. They were very nice, but you could tell that the person on the other end of the phone was just trying to pacify you. It all boiled down to "we will get to you when we can!"

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a visit from Mayor Bobby Bright. My neighbor Mrs. Giles saw him on Fairview Avenue and asked him to stop by our street to inspect a fallen tree. Mayor Bright came over and spent twenty minutes. The fallen tree was removed and the street was reopened for traffic. Before the evening was over most of my neighbors had their power restored.

Mayor Bright was genuinely concerned about our plight. I was impressed with the response from Alabama Power. I will happily pay my electric bill on time for the next several months.

Some people believed that power would be restored to the wealthy residents first. I personally rode by Winton Blount’s house several days and it looked like he had his windows open while I was freezing with air. Alabama Power did not discriminate.

My pastor Bennie Liggins ended services today reciting Matthew 7:25 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."

Hurricane Ivan sent a very big message to us all. There are some events in life that affect everyone the high and low the same. The reason for this equal treatment is because in the eyes of God we are all equal. We are all his children. When hurricane Ivan hit Montgomery, I did not see anyone walking around like a peacock. I didn’t hear anyone demanding to be called Dr. this or Dr. that. I didn’t hear anyone bragging about what organizations they belonged to. I didn’t hear anyone talking about his or her family pedigree. What I heard most was: "Do you have any "C" or "D" batteries?" "Do you have any ice?" Do you have any gas?" "When will the power be restored?"

It was a great lesson that I hope I will never have to repeat. What humbled me most was that hurricane Ivan could have cared less that I graduated from Morehouse College, now that really freaked me out!

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com