Exhale, Finally...

Finally able to exhale as @kimwillis418 got a call from her Mom today in Sea Level, NC and found out all is well after Hurricane Florence. Please keep praying for the Carolina coastal people — no electric, flood waters, trees down, bridges out — nevertheless, Alive. #ilovelucy💕 #FourWinds #PresenceMattersMost #Maranatha

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Storm Weary

I remember in 2014, our family was in a storm. My Dad, Capt. Billy, was in fact, in the storm of his life. He was facing cancer and death right in the face and eyes. The diagnosis came during my sabbatical, but my season of rest was compromised by Dad’s storm weary season.

I wrote earlier this week how in 1989, my Dad survived Hurricane Hugo’s 150 mph winds in his shrimp boat (of all places). Yes, all night long, near Charleston, South Carolina, Dad stared down what could have been death by drowning. 

Well, when 2014 came, I have no doubt that Dad’s sea storm of 1989, somehow helped prepare Him to stare down death and cancer. As a matter of fact, the night before Dad passed, he would not be distracted. He was fully focused in a storm. He was obviously facing down that last great enemy, death. So, Dad did die physically during the fourth watch of the night, around 3 am, November 17, 2014, but He surely made it through that storm to the beautiful shores of his Heavenly Home. His storm weariness gave way to soul restfulness. 

Today, my brain is a little storm weary as my heart is very heavy for my family and friends who have been and still are battling Hurricane Florence down in the Carolinas. It’s not my storm, but it still causes me true weariness. 

Just like in 2014, it was Dad’s cancer storm, not mine, but honestly, it sort of took the life out of me, too. Why? Because I loved Dad so much. Same with my family and friends in the wake of this hurricane. I love them so much. So, okay, I may not be in the storm physically with them, but believe me I am storm weary with them in spirit. This has been a week of vacation for me, but like my sabbatical, it has been compromised by this storm. 

Please keep praying for our family and friends down south and especially down east in Carteret County, North Carolina. My Mom held up well Thursday night through Florence’s 105 mph winds, but because of phone service further east, we have yet to talk with Kim’s Mom. We are trusting our strong Holy God, but still we are humanly storm weary, indeed. Nevertheless, all is well! 

Here are a few images from the day...

Someone sent a photo of the Harkers Island, North Carolina bridge sinkhole damage. 

The little Rehoboth Lighthouse here in Delaware inspired me. 

We had supper — fish and chips — 🇬🇧 Brit-style. 

Sign reminded me of Dad and my coastal loved ones. 

Fish and Chips. Ate seafood to support my coastal people, especially fishermen. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Simply Trust

I remember a few years ago when I called my Mom, Lady Melba, and asked: “Mom, do you ever have times when you just can’t pray?” “Oh, yes,” she said cheerfully. “That’s the best place to be, because then you simply trust.” 

Ironically, these thoughts came to me today as I sat along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, trying to pray for my Mom down on the coast of North Carolina where Hurricane Florence seems to be violently approaching the Willis homeplace. 

I called her a few minutes ago and the phone service was bad. So, I texted my son, Grayson, and said please call Mom (his Nanny) and ask her how she is. These words made up her whole reply: “Grayson, tell your Dad, I’m fine!” I’d guess that means the praying is past and the best place to be is now hers — simply trusting!

Old gull hanging out beside me. Makes two old birds. 

A wooden cross by the ocean gave me peace. 

The Atlantic is fierce today even up north. Invigorating, too.

This hymn, a prayer to lead us to simply trusting. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Call of the Sea — Capt. Billy

My Dad, Capt. Billy, used to talk to me about “the call of the sea.” Few understand it, but those who have heard it know there is no getting over it. 

Such is the call of God upon my life. God’s life-call for my Dad was to the sea, thus he lived most of his life on and around the ocean as a fisherman. God’s life-call for me has been to give my life to Him, as a fisher of men, women, boys and girls. 

I also have a love for the sea. Mostly, because of my Dad’s love for it, no doubt. It was there that he experienced the strongest sense of His Lord’s Presence. I also feel that same holy embrace when I am at or on the sea. 

My Dad feared hurricanes, but only out of respect. Some of the most exciting times of my childhood were watching Dad prepare his shrimp boat and our humble home for a hurricane. The only thing that overcame his fear of these giant unpredictable storms was the undeniable invigoration he felt preparing for one. It was obvious that he never felt more alive than when a hurricane was approaching.

As a matter of fact, in 1989, my Dad rode out Hurricane Hugo near Charleston, South Carolina aboard his shrimp boat. The short story is, Dad went south to miss the trajectory of the storm but the storm shifted and 150 mph winds with all of its fury came straight over the inland river where Dad had anchored. All night he stayed vigilantly awake, making sure his pumps worked and his anchors held. And praise the Lord, the Master of the Sea saw to it that Capt. Billy survived to tell the story. And man, did Dad love to tell the story. In fact, Dad became a legend of sorts because of his call to the sea and the invigoration that was his having survived a Category 5 hurricane on the water.

These days, the call of the sea is still working on me. This being a week of planned and needed vacation, Kim, Lucy and I scrambled back to homebase after our evacuation from Ocracoke Island, N.C., loaded the Four Winds RV and made our way to a new beach that we  believe to be just out of reach of Hurricane Florence’s wide-spread wings. Yes, we are beside the Atlantic Ocean at The Cape — Cape Henlopen, Delaware, that is. 

In spirit, however, we are also present with our family and friends in deep prayer as you are in the track of the storm. We are trusting the Almighty One Who holds this hurricane by the mane. King Jesus! May His call be evident to us all. 

A few images from Cape Henlopen, Delaware... 

Morning-lit beach path

Deer, deer, deer.

Ships passing. 

Seagull lift-off. 

His.

Hers. 

Coolest horseshoe crab ever. 

Waterfowl presence evidence.

 

The Point at Cape Henlopen. See the lighthouse in the fog. 

My Dad, Billy, as a young captain aboard trawler.

My Dad’s life-passage above from KJV.

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis

Immediate Mandatory Hurricane Evacuation

Well, I can mark that off my bucket list — “an immediate, mandatory, hurricane evacuation.” I’ve never been so tired on a vacation, but heh, I am not complaining because God is good all the time. 

Still, Kim, Lucy and I, had quite a long couple of days. The lyrics of an old 70’s song is on my brain: “I’ve been driving all night, man, my head on the wheel.” A drive that usually takes 6 hours, took 12. We arrived home for a short time-out at 5:30am, nevertheless, we have regrouped and Plan B is underway. We are back on the road again. Stay tuned for all of that, to be reported on later blog posts.

Mostly, today, I am thinking about all the spiritual application that has gone through my thinking during this immediate, mandatory, hurricane evacuation season. As we exited The Outer Banks of North Carolina, I thought about how faithful God has been spiritually to warn us that judgment is coming, and today is still the day of salvation, but the predicted storm will come. 

Even though the weather was beautiful on the coast yesterday, a giant storm is slowly but surely on the way. Some will heed the grace given and make preparations to be ready when it arrives, while others will ignore the threat and pay the ultimate price. Lord forbid.

Speaking about those who paid the ultimate price, today is 9-11. I remember with great pain the events that took place on this September day in 2001. Lord have mercy. Talk about an unexpected storm!

Finally, please pray for those in the track of this present, predicted storm, Hurricane Florence. 

Here are some images I snapped along our journey yesterday...

We left the cottage we adore. 

Tiny flowers at the cottage doorstep. 

The calm before the storm, Pamlico Sound. 

Hurricane evacuation traffic was gridlock often. 

A lovely sunset.

Colors so glorious. 

Reflections in the presently calm waters. 

Bodie Island Lighthouse 

Take 2

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Hurricane Holiday — All Is Well!

Well, as the Brits would say, Kim and i planned some time away, yes, “a short holiday,” however, it seems like Hurricane Florence is going to remix our plans. 

Yes, it’s been a beautiful but busy summer for us. And even now, September is mostly filled with leadership training sessions to help me be a good, new district superintendent, but we did manage to squeeze a few days of exhale between the training. Actually, these days were booked last summer, a year ahead. (But that’s another story.) 

We arrived late yesterday, Sunday, on the sacred-to-our-family island of my Granny Margery ONeal Willis’ birth — Ocracoke Island. And, yes, hurricane threats were already on the horizon, yet, coastal rental agencies don’t cancel lodging reservations until evacuation is made mandatory. That order will probably come before I complete this blog post —2pm Monday.

So, life has its interruptions. Looks like our latest interruption is “a hurricane holiday.” Is it somewhat disappointing? Sure. Having just arrived last evening South of the Stress Line, we had hoped to have some much needed time to just reset a new rhythm for the future of our lives, nevertheless, we know that our Loving God is already doing that for us. Surely, He is intricately and intimately involved in such interruptions, even ordering such interruptions, and so while we are somewhat sad, really, All is well! 

Please do pray for my native Carolina coast family and friends in the storm’s track.

Here are some photos from yesterday and today. I hope you have a sense of holiday in your heart as you view them... 

Adirondack chairs, Currituck, NC, at Morris Farm

Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry ride 

Snack from Morris Farm on the ferry 

The expanse above the sea, Creator God’s handiwork.

Ocracoke Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters. 

Cedar Grove Cottage, our favorite Blue Heron rental. 

Mourning Dove art work.

Kim, a beach lover. For her, the forecast saddens me.

Sitting in the be-present-in-the-present chair. Trusting. 

*** ADDED AFTER INITIAL POST WAS WRITTEN:

An immediate, mandatory evacuation was ordered on Monday at 2 PM on Ocracoke Island. Plan B underway. Keep praying for those in the track of this storm. Gotta pack. 

The calm before the storm — Pamlico Sound. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Desire Only... Devoted Wholly

These ten simple words penned by Brother Lawrence about his “The-Practice-of-the-Presence-of-God Lifestyle” point to a very profound 2-part purpose for my own life’s journey: 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis