By By Adam Prestridge
Everybody's had one of those pull-your-hair-out days.
One of those days where everything seems to go wrong and you literally feel like pulling all your hair out, one tiny strand at a time.
Being new to the Atmore area, it was obvious upon arrival that Hurricane Ivan had unleashed its fury on the small southern town. The beauty of the small town is slowly making a come back as contractors finish up projects, big and small, each day.
With this in mind, the past three months have been exceptionally interesting, as we've had the opportunity to see the town rebuild before our eyes. Although it's been slow going at times, workers have been busy for months clearing up the mess left by the storm.
The most recent large-scale storm replacement was the steeple at Atmore First Baptist Church, which drew a big crowd of onlookers and church members.
It was a sight to see as the workers scurried around as one operated the crane to hoist the huge steeple one piece at a time atop the church. Unfortunately, the big job was interrupted briefly by; you guessed it, more storms. Fortunately the storms weren't as strong as originally expected and the last pieces of the steeple were assembled a day later.
One thing unknown to those new to the area was the bell that accompanied the massive steeple. The sound of the chimes was music to my ears when they began ringing.
Now whenever the urge to pull my hair out arises, I take a deep breath and wait for the bells to toll. The hymns that echo throughout the city every hour of the work day help to calm me and to remind me that getting "bent out of shape" isn't always the answer.
So next time you're having a bad day, listen for the chime of the church bells and take a moment to collect your thoughts and remember that God has truly blessed us all.
Adam Prestridge is publisher of the Atmore Advance. His column appears on Sundays.