This past Saturday, 62 tornadoes touched down in my state. In my community, only one life was lost. God's grace was on us. On Tuesday, about 25 people went out into one of the worse hit areas to help 'clean up'. I was not prepared for what I tried to comprehend. Less than a quarter of a mile, life was 'normal'. Then we turned down a street to what seemed to be a bombed war zone. Words cannot begin to describe what we saw.
As I came home tired, sore, and sunburned, I started thinking about the days' events, the people who couldn't go home, the ones who have no electricity, running water, roof on their home.... In my lifetime I have heard tens of thousands of sermons. Some never leave you and stand out when you are in those quiet moments. While reflecting on the days events, one came to mind. We had a guest pastor come to our church and preached on the 'good Samaritan'. (Luke 10:25-37) It was delivered in a way that stood out from the rest.
Who is my neighbor? A man was just going about his daily life when 'bam, life happened'. It was a tornado in our community. Gaukers, sight seers, drive-by nosy on-lookers came to see who was hit, damaged done, and how sad it really is. But then some 'Samaritans' rode up, got off their asses, rolled up their sleeves, and started helping. How do you help? It was overwhelming at first, but trees needed to be cut, people needed to be hugged, roofs needed to be covered, belongings needed to be removed, tears needed to be shared, meals needed to be prepared.....
 |
| Trying to salvage what they can..... |
 |
| Remember people were home.... |
 |
| Protection by the hand of God..... |
 |
| The stroller is still standing by the front door..... |
 |
| The building is totally gone, yet everything is still in the garage... |
We got to go home, take showers, eat hot dinners, and lay in a soft bed. There is still such a need. Just for a touch, a kind word, hot meal, to help build their lives again.....
Dear Kim,
ReplyDeleteI am following your blog......
I saw some of the same things while traveling
to my sons neighborhood.....
In a high school trees sheered off and the football field bleachers twisted like a pretzel.
Across the street was a neighborhood that was
not totally destroyed but it looked like someone
had removed windows here...roof there...siding
in that place and fences no longer there!
Remember the word from the Lord for 2011...
This will be a year of Do It Now! It's never to late.....
Whatever is in your hand is above your circumstances.....
Moses had a staff...Aaron had a budded rod....Jesus has a scepter of Righteousness.
What do you have in your hand? Do it Now!
So I see in your pictures, His words fulfilled!
Now, the rest of the word for 2011 is:
The purpose of a closed door....
It can be opened.....
When a seemingly closed door opens, go through it.
You all touched people that day you may not have known.....Through circumstances, you all reached out with your hands and your voices to others...Yea God!
Blessings
Cleta Gill