According to news reports, it hit shortly after 8:00 PM last evening, Pacific Daylight Time, and was centred just forty-seven kilometres (approximately thirty miles) east southeast of where I live. It, being an earthquake, clocked in at 3.5 and some say it was followed by a second, less weighty version. That鈥檚 what I was told but I didn鈥檛 feel a thing.
Earthquakes are a part of life for us Pacific Coast dwellers and the arrival of the impending 鈥渂ig one鈥� is a daily possibility. In my books, all our bragging about warm weather, blooming flowers and mini-winters is muted by the reality of waiting for an earthquake that would, according to specialists, 鈥渞ip Vancouver Island wide open鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to Earthquake Seismologist, Dr. John Cassidy: 鈥淒uring the past 30 days there have been nearly 100 earthquakes in southwest British Columbia so every day we have these small earthquakes happening all around us.鈥� They are, he noted, a 鈥減owerful reminder that we live in an active earthquake zone鈥�. (http://globalnews.ca/news/1831562/3-5-magnitude-earthquake-hits-vancouvers-coast/)
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although I don鈥檛 advocate living in a state of perpetual fear, there鈥檚 something comforting about knowing that a minimum three day supply of water, canned goods, prescribed medications, and warm blankets are a few of the essentials packed into a preparedness kit. Our city emergency co-ordinator certainly pushes that message and every shaking is a reminder that our lack of prairie blizzards doesn鈥檛 make us immune to treacherous weather.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Trouble is, the message is clear and often sounded but how many bother to heed the warning. Too many times we do the same with Jesus鈥� call to follow Him. By either deliberately or carelessly refusing to respond to His love, we miss out on the grace He offers.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It鈥檚 a love worth accepting!
