Everyone has seen the news stories or read the articles about all the devastation and loss and now there are stories of rebuilding of not only our town but of individual lives. This morning in church we heard from many who were directly affected. There were also many more who sat in their seats unable to share as they found it difficult to speak about the wounds (not necessarily physical wounds) that are still healing. Although we were not in the direct path of the tornado just listening to the stories of survival brought back the memories of what we heard outside as the tornado blew past while we took shelter in our basement. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to have your home blown away while you sat huddled in the bathroom, hallway or crawl space then to emerge to find everything you owned gone.
For many today, when they reflected back they had glorious stories of God's hands on them protecting them and their families. One woman shared how she huddled over her son protecting him and singing to him to keep him calm and sometime later when the memory of that day was triggered by a song at church camp she realized that God had been singing to her that day and she could see that He was laying over all of them protecting them from the storm. I could not stop the tears and even now I get goosebumps from her story. There were so many testimonies of God's protection that day and even more testimony of how God came in the form of all the people who have come to help.
I have never been involved in a disaster before and I have presumed through this entire process that all communities found a way to come together and help. We had churches pull together and coordinate assistance along with other outside agencies. People gave up vacation plans to come here, donated food, water, clothing and time. Some came in groups but some came alone and joined other larger groups to do what they could. Did we have people who came and took advantage of the situation? Yes. And unfortunately some were from our own community. But the love of Christ over shadows all of that, at least for me, and we need to pray for those who were opportunist.
So, how do we make this more personal? What if we are not involved in a major disaster,does that mean that we have to wait for one to show the love of Christ to others; to be a community in Christ? No it does not. We can reflect Christ's love and be part of "community" by taking care of each other in everyday matters. This doesn't necessarily mean giving them something materially or monetarily but giving of yourself by listening to them, praying with them and just loving them. This also means we accept those gifts because I am learning that when we turn away those gifts it is like turning away God. I, for one do not ever want to turn Him away!
I remember a song we sang in the church I grew up in:
"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love"
I pray that our community reflects this song and is seen as such to others in the world. I pray that I, in my own personal life, and still learning how to love and forgive can reflect this same kind of love no matter what our situation is in our home.
Monica
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