can grow on my porch here without a lot of
are those things that are unseen, but have effects
attention because they draw moisture right out
that are felt nonetheless? Like the adage about
of the air. All in all, though, I think humidity
the fish who can’t see the water she’s breathing,
is a net negative for comfort and ease of living.
parts of our lives are like that. Some are good, others are neutral, and some are harmful. Some
A couple of years ago I had an opportunity
of it is the stuff that makes us who we are, the
to travel out west and spend some time in
bits of our family history and our DNA that
Utah. I’m not sure they’ve heard of humidity
shape how we view the world and interact with
out there. It is probably the driest place I’ve
others. Most of those things, I hope, are posi-
ISLAND IMPRESSIONS
ever been. I was amazed that after a run in
tives. Other things might include our fears or
BY FR. TOM PURDY,
the heat I wasn’t dripping with sweat. Instead
our prejudices. Maybe it’s the pain of abuse,
my sweat did its job; without high humidity
physical or verbal. Such things can and do cause
it evaporated and kept me cool. I instantly
harm, and we’re not always aware they are there
understood why some say, “Yeah, but it’s a dry
until some part of our life starts to mildew or
heat!” Around here, as soon as you start to run,
rust out.
RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH
Hope in the Humidity
H
umidity is one of the things that
you’re soaked. In truth, though, people in dry
keeps more people from moving to
climates do all they can to create humidity in
I joked about how humidity can almost kill
this area. Between the bugs and the
much the way we try to get rid of it.
a person and the quitters who head north to escape South Georgia summers, yet there are
humidity, it’s enough to scare the faint of heart away. For those who hail from low-humidity
I learned in my first year here that if I was going
things that surround us and envelope us that
places, our South Georgia summers can about
to store anything that wasn’t aluminum or plas-
can hurt us, and which we need to get away
kill a person. I’ve heard it described as breathing
tic in my garage, I needed to run a dehumidifier.
from if we can. When we are dealing with the
water, or heard someone say, “I opened my door
I discovered what happens with fabrics, woods,
negative consequences of these things we need
(where it’s air conditioned) and it’s like walk-
and some metals that are left to fend for them-
to find our equivalent “dehumidifier.” What is
ing into a wall.” Yep. Both of those comparisons
selves as they watch the cars come and go each
it that will draw such things away so that they
can be fair. Humidity isn’t a lot of fun, but it’s
day. I don’t need it year-round, but it runs for
dissipate and don’t affect us as strongly or at all?
part of the deal when you live or visit here.
more months than it doesn’t. Humidity is this
It might be counseling of some sort, or maybe
thing in our lives that we can’t really see, but
learning and growing in a certain area, or any
Don’t get me wrong. Humidity has its up sides
we can see and feel its effects. Eventually we get
number of other things. For me, my spiritual
too. My skin loves it. In fact, every year when
used to it, and we learn how to live with it since
life is my main dehumidifier. For others, it may
we travel north to visit family, my lips and my
we can’t eliminate it. Except for those who run
be yoga, running, or spending time riding the
hands in particular, remind me that they miss
off to the north for the summer. They’re either
waves or on the water. I hope we can all stay cool
the blessed moisture content of the air back
the smart ones or the quitters. I can’t decide.
and dry this summer. I hope we can all find our own personal “dehumidifiers” so we can breathe
home. I also find that the humidity makes for some great growing weather for some plants.
My wonderment centers on determining what
the water of life and walk through the walls that
Others, not so much. But, it seems more plants
other things in life are like the humidity. What
might otherwise slow us down.
66
ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
