Weather Watchin'

"Natures Fireworks" by bde296 in Estelline, SD

 Greetings,

 

 There has been quite a bit of wild weather in the last few days.  While the monastery has stayed high and dry, South Dakota to the north of us has seen destructive straight line winds and Nebraska to the south of us has already been visited by a few tornadoes!  This has prompted some storm preparation at home.  Each section of the monastery has a designated 'storm shelter' within the lower level of the house and many of the sisters are assigned places.

Assignment 1: Care of our elders is paramount; in the case of a storm, many of our nursing sisters and a few others would go to our care center to help the staff guide our elders to safety.  Once settled, the various elders take charge in leading a rosary and invoking St. Scholastica to protect us from storm.  I was tucked into an inner hallway with Sister Rosary leader during one storm; their prayer is serious business.  Assignment 2: Our mostly-mobile sisters have a different shelter and their own set of assigned sister storm guides, complete with flashlights and weather radios.  Assignment 3: We never forget our Benedictine Hospitality; the guest department sisters gather with our visiting retreatants, friends, and family.

Those of us on the upper floors of the monastery have practiced dashing down stairwells to our windowless sanctuaries.  Assignment 4: One or two sisters are in charge of a final room-check on each wing before descending the halls themselves and counting us again at our shelter.  We're a big family and it gets pretty warm and cozy in some of the lower halls.  Just like any family, we have our wide variety of storm responses...the storm watchers are always sneaking a bit closer to a window or door to 'see the action', the news fiends have their own weather radio to listen in, the intercessors usually gather for a quiet Rosary or Litany of the Saints (sometimes I'm here), and finally, the easily distracted (usually my group).  If a storm is predicted, I prepare a go-bag of flashlight, socks, billfold, umbrella, shawl, a good book, and some games.  Yup, a summer storm shelter is the prefect place for some Pinochle cards, Farkle or Yahtzee dice, and other easy travel games.  A little distraction and before we know it, the all clear alarm has been rung and we can return to our beds.  Thank God for family.

Blessings & Keep Watchin' the Skies!