“Lord, Lord, let us in!”
There is no cry as ear-piercing, as heartbreaking as what came out of the lips of these young women. While they desperately pound on the door that is forever closed to them, we hang onto a comforting thought that says, “At least we are not them.”
Who are these women? How did they end up this way?
In the days leading up to a major hurricane, people swarm the stores to buy food and supplies. They don’t think about leaving a few gallons of water for the last-minute shoppers. They take as much as they can fit in their shopping carts, or as much as they think they can put on their credit cards. They say if nothing comes of it, they can just throw a big party with all the extra food.
I was amazed by a storm chaser who had enough food to last two weeks while staying in one of the Florida Keys during Hurricane Irma. My refrigerator can only hold enough groceries for one week! Most Americans are very good at stocking up on food and drinks. I noticed most of my friends have two refrigerators. Many can easily outlast the storm and its aftermath.
On the other hand, when it comes to evacuation, some folks would roll their eyes and become disengaged. City officials are often aggravated by residents that refuse to leave. I saw on the news that one official asked those that chose to ride out Hurricane Harvey in their homes to write their social security numbers on their arms. How morbid is that? Was that a threat or was the guy serious? The dreadful red shading on the map indicating mandatory evacuation does not faze them; people would still stare down a Category 5 and say defiantly, “We are not going anywhere.”
There is an insightful article in Fortune Magazine that sheds some light on this irrational phenomenon.
What is an evacuation, really? It’s an unpaid vacation for an indeterminate length of time. There is a price tag attached to safety. You will need a reliable car. You will need plenty of fuel. You will need a place to stay. You need disposable income or savings to be able to eat out indefinitely.
Studies and surveys have shown repeatedly that almost half of Americans have not saved enough to cover $1,000 in unplanned emergencies such as hurricane evacuation. Hurricane Evacuation – Is that even in anyone’s budget?
Our credit card was hacked TWICE within two months. I am grateful for the speedy resolution, but it’s still infuriating. It puts us in an inconvenient position where we have to pay cash until the new card arrives. (I guess it’s not so wise to have only one credit card!) Say, if we live from paycheck to paycheck without any cash under the mattress or in the bank, we would need a thick skin to borrow money from those that wouldn’t refuse us…such as our own elderly parents.
In short, unpreparedness or under-preparedness could put us in great peril.
“Lord, lord, let us in!”
The Parable of the Ten Virgins gives me chills.
A wedding feast was in the works. Ten young women were all decked out in their fancy dresses. Half of them decided to bring a flask of oil for their lamps – even if it was inconvenient. But the other half didn’t want to be bothered with the added hassle. They were all anxiously waiting for the bridegroom to show up. A few minutes turned into half an hour, half an hour turned into one hour, two hours, and three hours…until they all drifted off to sleep. At midnight, they awoke to the loud chatters of excitement. “The bridegroom is here! The bridegroom is here! Come out, everyone!” They had just a minute to puff up their dresses and fix their hair. Suddenly, one of the girls was panic-stricken when she realized the flame in her lamp was about to go out. “Hurry, give me some of your oil!” She grabbed onto the arm of a girl with a flask. Chaos ensued as more girls realized their lamps were becoming dim. “Give us some of your oil,” they screamed and demanded.
You’d think those that were prepared would be nice enough to share. These girls had waited a long time for this moment, and nothing was going to get in their way.
“No, there isn’t enough for both you and me. Go and buy some for yourself!” They asserted themselves (and good for them!) The Hapless Five quickly ran out to buy more oil. At that moment, the bridegroom walked in, beaming with his holy radiance. He was delighted to see the five young women with their lamps brightly lit, beautifully illuminating their rosy cheeks. He warmly greeted them and led them inside the wedding banquet. The door was then shut behind them.
The Hapless Five returned with flasks of oil in their hands. They could barely catch their breaths. The emptiness of the street sent an eerie feeling through their spines. Seeing everyone had already gone inside, they banged on the door, hard.
“Lord, lord, let us in!”
What they heard through the wall would completely destroy them.
“Who are you? I don’t know you,” said the bridegroom.
“The closed door, which to those who were ready meant security and untold bliss, to the others meant banishment and untold gloom.” (Alfred Plummer)
The Bible with its words of wisdom and timeless truths doesn’t teach us exactly how to prepare for a hurricane. Rather, it’s a book filled with enigmatic allegories and parables, hinting at impending doom, urging us to reflect deeply about life on earth and thereafter.
We would be wise to decide once and for all where we stand in terms of eternity. Don’t put off seeking out answers.
People might say the world is not going to end in their lifetime. I would agree. But it’s always prudent to have extra oil in storage. Don’t be left scrambling at the last minute only to have the door shut in your face.
