When Disaster Strikes at Work

The morning started like so many others at Homeland Security. I made my way through layers of security with Kastle cards, microchips, and passwords. My computer buzzed to life and displayed too many emails for this early in the day.

After a couple of meetings and a skipped lunch, I returned to my desk and began reviewing a proposed contract for some kind of bio-hazard gear. Suddenly, everything shook violently. Fear began knocking on my brain and I felt a little disoriented.

Something fell down in the next room and I heard glass break. As quickly as it began, the shaking stopped. I jumped up from my desk and ran to the office next door. My employee appeared ashen and confused.

“What happened, Dave?” Tosha said.

“I don’t know,” I replied truthfully. In Washington, D.C. one suspects the worst, particularly post-9/11. It could have been a bomb at the White House, just a few blocks away.

“I don’t want to be alone.” Tosha jumped up and came around her desk.

“Let’s go in my office. I will get under the desk and you get under the credenza.”

The building began to shake again, this time worse than the first. I prayed a hurried, honest prayer. “Lord, we don’t know what this is, but we trust you in the middle of it. Please protect us and all those in this building.”

When the Shaking Stopped

After a few more minutes, the shaking stopped and I climbed out from my hiding place. With the power out, I hurried to an interior room where more of my employees had been working. I unlocked the door. Light from exterior windows then flooded into their space. Each one filed out, looking shaken physically and mentally.

We all soon learned that a rare earthquake had struck our nation’s Capital. Everyone filed downstairs and were escorted to an open area down the block.

Spirit of Fear or Faith?

As I sat on a curb looking around, I thought about my faith and Paul’s words to a younger Christian brother,

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB)

The question for all of us that day boiled down to faith or fear. Which would it be?

Although well-trained in resiliency and disaster procedures, even a bunch of Homeland Security employees faced fear as the unexpected descended. Each of us had to look inside. Those of us with faith in God realized a perfect opportunity to show leadership.

Being Ready

How we live our daily lives will determine our readiness. If we lean on God for the little things in life – the small tests, we become ready for larger challenges. We build resilience by occasionally considering, what will I do if a disaster happens at my work? Ask the Lord to show you how you can be helpful when unusual challenges arise.

By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through our normal routine, we practice for those unusual times when big trouble strikes.

Many people around us seldom consider life’s bigger questions. Some make a conscious effort to avoid the thought of God. Big moments bring all of us into the valley of decision. They want someone like you or me to show forth them the way through life’s storms.

Our God-inspired strength looks pretty good when foundations of their reality are shaking. By living in God’s word and trusting in Him, we can apply His wisdom to the worst of times. Like the psalmist wrote, then it can be said of us that: 

“He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:7 (NASB)

Copyright © 2018 David L. Winters, used with permission.