“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
—Proverbs 17:17
Forgive me, this may be short, but as I write this, I have been thrown completely out of my usual daily groove. I should have been writing much earlier in the day, but unfortunately, there’s a tree through my roof.
Large limbs now jut through my bathroom ceiling, as I feel the frigid winter night slowly but surely begin to intrude.
I should probably be writing about some political controversy circulating in the “factual” but never quite truthful news – perhaps whether or not the latest ICE incident in Minneapolis was a good or bad “shoot” – yet my mind remains tuned to the fact that there’s a tree through my roof.
I’ve worried that this sort of thing would happen ever since I witnessed a large oak tree fall on my neighbor’s roof three years back – roots-and-all ripped from the ground as trunk and branch came crashing down with the deafening sound of a thunderclap!
Every intense thunderstorm since that day, I have found myself nervously watching the trees around my home bend and sway in the whipping winds and pouring rain, hoping against hope that today won’t be the day that my best laid plans come crashing down as roots are ripped from soaked soil and clay.
Yet now that the unlucky day has finally arrived, would you believe I didn’t even get a chance to see the tree fall with my own eyes?
Following my usual daily groove, the storm caught me blind during my morning drive – only to arrive home and find there’s a tree through my roof.
And now as those cracked limbs creep through my ceiling and welcome the winter evening’s freeze – and as I take account of all my stuff covered in soggy little pink fiberglass clouds along with drywall dust, dirt and debris – I can’t help but feel unsettled yet strangely at peace, as I wonder why I was so worried about suffering this or any other adversity.
Yes, I wish there weren’t a tree through my roof. Yes, I wish my home weren’t a windswept and disordered mess. Yes, I wish every day were full of fair-weather routines without any sign of trouble or distress. I confess I am a creature of habit, a slave to ways barely my own. I am quick to prefer the path of least resistance and swift to travel well-worn roads I already know.
Yet, my misfortune has proven lucky, providing me with proof that I am truly blessed, even though there’s a tree through my roof.
A time of need is a time of plenty when it allows a man to discover he has friends – and that the blessings of friendship are worth suffering any adversity and brotherhood worth braving any howling wind.
Forgive me; this may be short, but as I write this, I have been completely thrown off my usual daily to-do list. I should have been writing much earlier in the day, but, as you know, there’s a tree through my roof.
So, please allow me to end with a thank you.
Thank you for all the well-wishes.
Thank you for all the offers of chainsaws and homemade snacks, too.
Thank you for all the practical advice and support.
But most of all, thank you, my friends, for reminding me that brothers are born for adversity.
Joey Clark is a native Alabamian and is currently the host of the radio program News and Views on News Talk 93.1 FM WACV out of Montgomery, AL, M-F 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. His column appears every Tuesday in 1819 News. To contact Joey for media or speaking appearances, as well as any feedback, please email [email protected]. Follow him on X @TheJoeyClark or watch the radio show livestream.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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