Imagine

images by author

Uncontrolled water, devastation and disaster. Impossible to imagine that something (water) which sustains us can also take a turn and in moments  take from us our possessions, our families, friends, and pets, our lives as we once knew it. Standing among the ruins in New Orleans amidst the destruction of Katrina that image becomes a reality. The smell of muddy storm water, decay, mold and death was embedded in the ground and hung heavy in the air. Standing quietly and listening you could hear muffled cries for help, the crashing and the breaking of buildings as the thunderous water pounded into them. The strongest presents were of those who lost their life to this disaster as they roamed the grounds of what was once their home, unsettled, and unable to rest in peace.

Skeptical, about spirit – life after death? Many are until they come face to face with feelings, sounds and images that can’t be explained. At the Katrina site you could feel a heaviness in your heart, a feeling of despair so intensely strong you couldn’t control it, a knot in your stomach that made you want to vomit, a sadness that wouldn’t let go.

For one moment can you imagine sleeping peacefully in your bed or sitting quietly watching the late night news and without any warning you are suddenly being tossed around like a childs toy as cold muddy water is rushing in all around you and begins to fill your lungs sucking the life out of you? Do you have time to think about loved ones or shout a quick good-bye, or I’m sorry? I don’t think so. In a matter of seconds it’s over and your soul is lost between this world  and another realm. It wanders aimlessly not understanding what happened and not believing the overcoat (person) to this soul is dead.

When my travel companions and I stepped from the car to explore the Katrina site and take pictures there was an almost instant change that came over us. No one really talked about it but I knew we all in some way witnessed the cries of the dead, our nostrils burned with the smell of death and fear, and we witnessed the heaviness in the air. On the ride back to the hotel we all sat in silence – IMAGINING…….