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Why would anyone think it safe to go surfing with a hurricane in tow? Having witnessed Hurricane Katrina through the eyes of my family, my sense is heightened around natural events such as Hurricane Irene. As I watched the various reports that provided insight into the path that the Hurricane was set to take, many of the local governors and other officials were very clear that despite what you see, evacuate. Don’t take chances, rely on the information that is being provided and heed the warnings.

In later news reports CNN did a story from Atlantic City that featured a number of senior citizens that were held up in a high rise apartment refusing to leave. Authorities had visited them no less than five times to encourage them to evacuate. Still they remained. Later reports showed pictures of people being rescued in boats and utilizing other emergency vehicles; these were the folks that refused to comply with the warning and decided to ride it out. Sure enough in many of the cases the storm manifested just as predicted.

Isn’t that just like life? We can receive all sorts of warning signs, yet many times, we dig in our heels and determine that we know best. Doesn’t matter how many times a warning flare is right before eyes, we begin to rationalize our deliberate intentions, refusing to consider the warning.

Just as Hurricane Irene ripped through so many areas, the same happens in life. How often have you had to be rescued because you did not consider the warning signs? The good news for us is that the Lord continues to show up and remains available to bail us out of our stupidity.

We might breathe a sigh of relief when we are rescued and some, as was the case with many of the storm victims; become empowered by the fact that “nothing happened to them, they were rescued!” The problem with that thinking is you become prone to try it again.

As I watched the reports on Hurricane Irene, I found myself talking the television and saying, “what is wrong with you? Pay attention to the warning signs? Get out of there?” It is a reminder of what can happen when you don’t take warnings seriously and just continue down your own determined path

In situations like this, I am always reminded of James 1:22-25 “but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing…”

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have bumped my head enough and now I get it. If you pay attention and listen carefully, you WILL receive warning signs. If you follow the warnings and rely on the power associated with doing so, more often than not, everything is gonna be alright.

Tanya is an inspirational speaker and writer living in Charlotte. You can friend her on Facebook or email her at tw360you@aol.com. Read more columns by Tanya Wilson.

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