I’ve
noticed that more folks are recently challenging remarks by others during
troubled times when they remark “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” They cry for that plus action! That phrase has almost become cliché in our
culture and folks are noticing. The
recent rampage of Hurricane Helene and the resultant response demonstrated that
prayers and action go well together!
A
tremendous number of folks have been left homeless with nothing of material
value including basic necessities after Helene hit the Western North Carolina
mountain country. I checked the weather
there this morning and now found a freeze warning for the higher elevations and
the season’s early snowfall there. That’s
made the situation more dire.
Our
world is presently in turmoil given the devastation of Biblical hurricanes,
lengthy wars in Ukraine and Israel, a contentious presidential election
with two attempted assassinations, a recent worldwide pandemic, import dock
strikes, atomic weapons in too many countries, famines, etc. After
the fall, all creation groans to be redeemed and renewed, along with the rest
of humanity. We need God and prayer
with action now more than ever.
A few days ago, I came across a social media post by a member of the United Cajun Navy, crediting Adam Dufour, about his experience upon returning from the area to volunteer in assisting the folks up in the mountain country. I extracted this short summary:
“Massive amounts of water flowing down
the steep slopes caused mud slides, that snowballed into avalanches of liquid
earth, filled with huge trees, rocks and other debris, cascading down the
mountains at 40+ MPH and anything man made in their path was annihilated.
People were helping complete strangers, or their friends and neighbors. This is
the heart and spirit of my America, and it's still beating strong. I have
witnessed countless people who have suffered terrible loss, who have placed
their faith in Jesus Christ, and are still thankful, and praising His name.”
I was selling pumpkins at our church front yard when a very young, modest couple and their cute little two-year-old daughter in a seasonal orange dress arrived. They spent time taking photographs and strolling around the patch and then wheeled a red Flyer wagon up with two $15 pumpkins. The young man noted that he had just returned from the mountains with a group that was clearing roadways for people. He then handed me two $20 bills and asked me to put the change in a Hurricane Donation jar on the table. He had just been a witness to the need.
Our congregation will be providing two portable gas generators and delivering 200 requested sleeping bags to a UMC church in Banner Elk so far.
Karl Barth was right when he observed: “To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” This troubled world, including the Holy Land and our western North Carolina mountains, is definitely worthy of our prayers and our actions! The floods that have ravaged our state remind us of our strength.
“We may bend but we never break.” When the night is dark, be the star that
ushers us home.
