Finding Energy in Outage
I know what you may be thinking when you see a title like that. But, no! This is not merely to create an oxymoron. It’s to document what has been my reality this weekend.
And yes, I mean power outages — the abrupt loss of electricity. They have long been a source of frustration for me. They actually annoy me. They test my patience, disrupt plans, and evoke painful memories.
To then be experiencing one for more than 50 hours (as at the time I write this), in the wake of a devastating tornado that swept across Houston last Thursday, isn’t just loathsome, but bewildering!
Yet, in the stillness of this outage, I discovered a wellspring of energy within. One that saw me through the darkness, opening up new vistas to profound growth and happiness.
Without the hum of air conditioning or the familiar beeps from my phones, I leaned into silence. I reflected on what this outage was meant to teach me (or have me do).
I recalled, quite vividly, the loss of a favorite aunt during an outage in Nigeria, moons ago — a remarkably painful memory that shaped my career path in energy. That outage — and especially her passing — ignited my mission to tackle energy poverty, promoting quality energy access, energy (and STEM) literacy, and even more pertinent, energy resilience for all.
Unburdened by pending tasks or obligations (work and otherwise), I pondered the opportunities arising from the current outage. With nothing to distract me, I turned to the pages of books. I read multiple articles that I couldn’t sit with for months (or possibly neglected), broadening my mind and mining several pearls of wisdom.
Fully present, I reveled in gratitude for the adversities, blessings, and joys of recent months; savoring moments that mattered. And even though CenterPoint’s repair crews are still working on the lines, I feel as though I am plugged into a power outlet, energized for what lies ahead.
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So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are HIS lovers who have been called to fulfill HIS designed purpose. — Romans 8:28 TPT
