The Day the Earth Moved

Do you ever stop to fathom the awesome benefits of water? As humans, water sustains us, cleanses us and even purifies us in the Sacrament of Baptism. 

Conversely, water in too much quantity can be detrimental and even deadly, as we’ve seen with the recent tsunami in Japan. Or the damage can occur in our very own backyard.

Tammy in the same crevice

Last month the Cincinnati area set a record for being the wettest April on record with over 13.5 inches of rain. We’ve experienced local and flash flooding, basement floodings and even ground erosion. In the back yard of a friend of mine, the earth is actually moving. 

Tammy estimates that the ground in her back yard is slipping away at approximately 2-4 inches a day. She has recently had to dismantle her back yard deck for fear of losing it to the ravine below. The first-floor enclosed porch, having the stairwell already removed due to lack of support, has to be jacked up daily as its beams are no longer supported on the shifting ground. And the patio and shed that were once snug against the ground floor basement wall are several feel from their original position.  

Enclosed porch

To stabilize and repair her property is estimated to cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, this kind of natural event is not covered by Tammy’s home owner’s insurance. And without having enough equity in her home, she is unable to secure a loan. 

Please keep Tammy and her family in your prayers as she desperately seeks a resolution to this personal disaster.  At this point, all she can do is to “Let Go, and Let God.” I believe that through prayer miracles do happen. 

Shed

You can check out more of Tammy’s photos online by clicking here.

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All photos courtesy of Tammy Gideon.

Sharon Lape is both the Permissions Manager and the Administrative Assistant in the Periodicals Department at St. Anthony Messenger Press. She also researches and provides content for the popular Minute Meditations feature. Sharon is a wife and a mother of four and is active in “Youth Renew” retreats in her parish. blog comments powered by

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