The following story was sent to me via e-mail and written by someone who survived Katrina. Since I do not know this person, I can not authenticate the story, but its message is certainly meaningful for any of us who have experienced severe “storms” and loss in our lives.

May we all live our soul purpose,
Misa

Hello friends,

My family evacuated prior to the hurricane and is safe, Alex, my son, and
I stayed to care for pets that owners could not or would not evacuate
with them. The conditions have been primitive and challenging, then they turned
very dangerous.

Alex and I stayed and cared for the animals (we could handle no water,
electricity, & water in the steamy summer heat) until we felt our lives
were at risk, and we were able to escape the city out the back door as
security in the Big Easy deteriorated. Physically we are both in
excellent shape as I prepared for the worst before the arrival of
Katrina.

As far as emotionally, I have RARELY felt so peaceful, serene, and in in
a place of unconditional love since the hurricane started bearing down
on the city. A surreal sense of calm, oneness, and caring has
overwhelmed me since this challenge has arrived in my small microcosm of
the universe. I realize that this is a sign for me that I need to look
at. My heart feels more open than it ever has!

This challenge is happening for a reason, and even though it may not be
apparent at this point to most the world, I KNOW that the lessons that
we are to learn from this very low vibration that has been and is
continuing to be CREATED by OUR collective consciousness will help our
evolution on this planet.

Don’t only meditate and pray for peace in my home in New Orleans, but BE
peace and love at every moment with everyone you encounter, be thankful
for all of our blessings…especially the simple ones we take for
granted. This is one way we can raise our vibration and that of our
planet, and the ripple effects will reach New Orleans and the gulf
coast.

If I can be in this place of acceptance, love, and peace after losing my
home, my businesses, and and a city that I love so dearly, so can
everyone else. More than ever, this is what needed on our planet. Total
acceptance. And the knowing that we have a responsibility to change what
doesn’t work anymore, to change the things that were in place that WE
created that led to the current unrest in New Orleans, long after
Katrina was gone.

To me, THIS is the real issue we should be addressing. If we had not
created a situation where almost one fourth of my city’s residents live
BELOW the poverty level, I know that the instability in the city would
not exist in the aftermath of a storm that only lasted a matter of
hours.

Until mankind addresses this deeper core issue, and until we correct
this inequity worldwide, there will be many more “cries for help”,
however unacceptable, by the lower socio-economic groups of souls that
WE have created, much like we are now seeing in New Orleans. I feel
their pain, their fear, their feelings of loss and despair, and I
understand their unconscious actions for basic survival. They are not
crying out for just supplies, they are crying out for love and
acceptance from mankind.

How shall we respond?

This is a another opportunity for mankind to demonstrate and express WHO
WE REALLY ARE and to change what WE have created on this planet.

I am excited about this opportunity to accept what is, embrace it, and
decide WHO AM I IN RELATION TO THIS?

Life is full of challenges, and the universe will never fail to give us
opportunities to evolve. This is mine and I am blessed to have this
spiritual slap on the side of my head. I will make the most of this
opportunity. I hope that anyone who has been affected by the ongoing
events in my beloved hometown does the same. The consciousness of our
planet needs the compassionate, heartfelt love and light from all souls
touched by the ongoing events.

Please stop for 5 minutes RIGHT NOW and close your eyes, breathe deeply,
and passionately envision our leaders making choices and decisions that
will be for the highest good for all involved on the gulf coast. We can
let go and let God empower our leaders to hasten a rapid recovery of
this devastated area and pray for a major healing. Nothing is more
important at THIS moment RIGHT NOW.

Please forward this letter to as many people as you can, as time is
critical !

Take this challenge and use it to help us remember that we are all
connected on a soul level, and that love, compassion, and understanding
are the common threads that make human “kind”.

Namaste’ !

Scott