It has been said many times before, that when the Island is confronted with something bigger that any authority, Bermudians tend to draw closer together in meeting a challenge that poses a threat to every single person.

As Hurricane Gonzalo rumbled with enormous power toward our Island home, the reality sank in that although much of the Island had yet to recover from Tropical Storm Fay the week before, Bermuda would be facing the wrath of nature again on a scale that was far from comforting. Unlike some countries, running for the hills was out of the question.

As it became very clear that Gonzalo had no intention of changing course, there was the usual mad scramble at various stores to secure whatever items might be needed should power fail, along with food supplies to cope with store closures.

Without saying very much about the storm, one could sense what could be described as expressions of controlled frantic emotions, that meant few people were taking this lightly.

Government and police officials were making every effort to keep the public informed of what to expect and, supported by the Bermuda Regiment, Fire and health officials, the Island braced itself for an encounter with Gonzalo knowing that it was going to be very rough ride no matter what.

Even as Bermudians waited as darkness fell on October 16, there was something happening within the community spirit. One might say it happens every time a large storm approaches, but the mere fact that it happens, is something to ponder, because the willingness to reach out and talk to each more, could be useful in tackling other types of storms in community life.

When Gonzalo was raging across the Island bashing trees to the ground, shattering windows, and damaging roof tops, there were reports of people who were so overtaken with fear that some hid in closets, wondering what the next gust would be bring. Not uncommon when hurricane force winds threaten to demolish anything in its path.

Despite all of this, when the storm moved away and the first rays of sunlight revealed considerable damage, just about everywhere there were obvious signs from various parts of the Island that people were reaching out to each other, without a second thought in a way usually seen just before Christmas.

It is one of the truly beautiful Bermudian qualities that most would like to see more of. While power outages as a result of the storm had an effect on routine family life, it was not quite the negative that some folks made it out to be.

One gentleman I spoke with as he was racking up leaves, said the blackout provided a time for reflection on how much we take for granted. In other words, the community itself could benefit from a quiet pause from the hectic pace of almost non-stop activity, to stay ahead in a world where success is measured too often by economic or political power.

As Gonzalo fades into history, sadly, much of that warmth seen after the storm between people who were helping people they hardly knew, might fade also. Let’s hope that is not the case, but reality seems to indicate that outside of a storm, that wonderful reach-out spirit will next be alive again over the Christmas season.

While it might not be out front all year round, it is good to know it is there.

We should all take pride in the way the Bermuda Regiment, the police and fire officials, along with health officials, reached out during the recent hurricane to keep the Island as safe as possible.

It is that reach-out spirit we must try to keep alive throughout the year.