Watching the floods on TV became more real as they closed in on us. By the time our suburb was given a warning, I was beside myself with fear and 'what to do.'
The family was away and safe, and even though I knew our suburb was safe and we lived high on a hill, I had the worries.
The day before I had been listening to Mozart whilst lightening flashed and thunder rolled. I had my sketch pad out and was painting my youngest daughter in a green pea pod floating down a river.
But now I was looking for ways to bring the entire house from downstairs to up. I looked around me and knew I couldn't do it. I faced the fear that thousands had faced in the last few weeks, perhaps I will lose everything, and so I went to bed.
The morning came and the rain was still drumming. I waited for the predicted king tide. It came and went. We were safe. The relief and desire to help those affected bloomed. I wasn't the only one, on day one of the cleanup there were 20,000 volounteers. on day two, 100,000.00. There was no room for more people, so we donated instead from our houses, pockets, bank accounts and businesses.
My yoga class started that week. the beach was awash with branches, a pontoon, household items and animals that couldn't survive.
Yoga by the sea that held such catastrophe was testimony to the human spirit. Many people came out of their homes to return to that place of peace. Bob cats hummed around us as the cleanup continued.
When the sun came out, you wouldn't know that just down the road peoples lives had been destroyed and once homes were now mud.
Compassion is rebuilding what once was and homes will be once more.