Pray without ceasing. ~1 Thessalonians 5:17
As most of you who follow this blog have figured out by now, Danny and I are safe at home. But allow me to take you back to the anxious time a week ago today when we prepare to leave the Hilton Garden Inn. We still don't know for certain what awaits us on our return home. Will there be a branch piercing our roof? A tree across our driveway? Will our neighborhood look like a war zone?
We approach the city of Kennesaw, keenly observing any abnormality that might jump out at us. So far, so good. Our hearts become just a bit lighter. Before we know it, the entrance to our neighborhood is in sight. As we turn in, the sighs of relief become prayers of gratefulness. No one, it seems, in our neck of the woods has suffered any damage from the storm. Even the creek at the bottom of our development flows at its normal level, with no trace of storm debris on the road except the usual piles of fallen leaves.
As our car stops at the crest of our steep driveway, we can't see any violation of our roof by tree limbs. Of course, debris is everywhere, but nothing out of the ordinary that could cause undue alarm for us. Danny knows, too, because of an app on his phone, that our home never even lost electricity. How miraculous is that?
We enter our home safely, our hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving. Just the thought, at our age, of having to start all over again is enough to make the most stalwart of hearts grow faint. It is a fall-on-your-knees-praise-the-Lord moment!
But as we watch dreadful events unfolding in other regions of the southeast, a deep sense of survivor guilt engulfs us. Each new tragedy brings fresh tears and repurposed prayers. We are hit particularly hard by the flooding in our beloved North Carolina mountains. Place like Chimney Rock and Asheville are reduced to mud-slicked rubble. The images on our television look like scenes out of a horror movie.
But this is no movie. It is real life in real time with real people who have lost homes, businesses and, worst of all, their very lives. As of today, there are still hundreds of thousands of people in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas without electricity, cell service and the basic essentials of clean water and food. With so many roads washed away in the mountains, I see on the news that mules and horses are being used to bring in such supplies as can be carried to these remote areas.
I know there are hundreds of private organizations, churches and volunteers working round the clock to help in all the areas adversely affected. But where is FEMA? Why are they saying they don't have enough funds to last through this hurricane season? As we say here in the South, and it is NOT a compliment, "Bless their hearts."
Please join me in praying fervently and continuously for the victims of this disaster. The recovery will be long and arduous for so many. Even if we can't afford to monetarily contribute, prayer is free.
And God, our one true Life Line, is listening.
Amen!
