John Stanko

I have always had the secret desire to live through an earthquake, with a special emphasis on live through. Right before I left Africa a few weeks ago, I got back to my guest house around midnight.  I was exhausted but decided to watch some of the Winter Olympics broadcast on television.  About 20 minutes later, I heard a noise that sounded like a truck.  Then I heard gunshots from next door and I thought, "We're under attack!" (the neighbor thought, like I did, that it was a breakin of some kind)  Then my refrigerator, freezer, furniture and glass doors began shaking and I thought that the attackers had broken through the security gate and were on their way.

Now I had a dilemma.  I have only one door in and out of my cottage.  Should I lock myself in or leave the house altogether?  Before I had a chance to make up my mind, it occurred to me that we weren't under attack, but we were in an earthquake.

It turns out that the epicenter was in Mozambique and the quake registered 7.5 on the Richter scale. The tremor lasted about 30 seconds, which seemed like a long time!  It was the first earthquake in southern Africa in 100 years!  It's nice to be part of history, but I can live well if I am never so honored again.  At first, I wondered if it was something I said that caused this historic event!

The quake reinforced what I already knew:  My times are in His hands (see Psalm 31:15).  I don't know when my time is up, so I need to maximize every moment.  Even yesterday a well-known American baseball player died of a stroke at the age of 44.  Athletes aren't supposed to die that young, but they do.  So I need to write, travel and work now before my times are up.  How about you?  Don't wait for something like an earthquake to give you a wake up call to this reality.  Wake yourself up and get busy doing what you want to do. 

By the way, I lived through the earthquake, so I reckon that my times aren't up yet.  And if you're reading this, neither are yours.

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