After the Storm...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
After the Storm… Last night a huge line of tornadic storms moved through Arkansas. My hometown, Vilonia, was hit hard. I went to sleep last night after hearing of numerous injuries and 1 death in the place I called home growing up, where my parents still live. Thankfully my family are all safe and accounted for. I haven’t heard an updated count as of this morning, but one thing is sure: residents of that community are waking up different this morning than they were this time yesterday.
That’s the undeniable truth about storms when they hit close to home: they change you. They leave a path of devastation that is most heartbreaking when your home or family lies in its wake. For those outside the impacted area, it was another bad storm that they survived, for which they are thankful. The perspective is infinitely different – miles apart – for people affected and those not.
I’ve been through a storm or two in my short life thus far. I’ve been through a dark, scary night when it seemed like everything that mattered was being torn from my grasp. I have sat up, awake, not knowing what would be destroyed next as the night went on. Sure, I’ve seen my share of bad weather, but sometimes the storms going on inside of us are even more dramatic and scary.
I remember the feeling the day after that storm began. I remember seeing people going about their regular, daily life. Nothing had changed for them. I remember thinking, “How can you just act like nothing happened? How can you just be living life as usual, when my world had caved in?” The truth is nothing had changed for them. They weren’t hit by the storm – they avoided its path of destruction that night.
And so this morning, would you join me in praying for the folks who were hit by the literal storm last night? Would you also lift up the folks today that are facing a storm that only they know the extent of? Join me in striving to be more sensitive to the pain of those who have just woken up to the day after the storm. Let’s ask God to show us how to be the hands and feet of the Body of Christ to those hurting, to bring peace, love and joy to their lives, and ultimately show them the One Who can walk on the water and bring those powerful words, “Peace, be still” every time.

PS: If you’d like to donate to the tornado relief efforts one suggested group is the American Red Cross. I’ve seen first-hand that these folks will provide shelter and clothing to people who have lost homes in these types of situations. Visit http://www.redcross.org and click the link at the top of the page, “DONATE FUNDS.”


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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