Thinking of You

I want to start by apologizing for my delay in posting. I have been pretty preoccupied lately. My mind and heart have been bound with the heaviest chains to the victims in Dumas and I can't seem to break them no matter how hard I try. There is so much that runs through my thoughts on a daily basis but I will keep it brief.


I have had the opportunity to go and help in this time of need several times. I went the day after the tornado struck and also this past weekend. It is dumbfounding to view first hand the devastation of these neighborhoods. It makes you think when you look at houses that are totally destroyed while the houses on either side of it were spared. We helped some people move the few appliances that were salvageable, all the while watching the next door neighbor kick around the rubble praying to find a single picture that survived the destruction.


We stood at the edge of a cotton field Saturday and looked at debris scattered as far as the eye could see. I began to walk out through this field and what I saw cut me deeper than anything else. I expected in my mind's eye to see pieces of tin, maybe some shingles and wood, but what I saw were peoples memories. I walked and with every step laid pictures, books, teddy bears, baseball cards, blankies, etc. This has stuck with me to realize the pain that these people must be feeling, not just in loosing a house but more importantly losing a home.


"A Home", that word has lost a lot of its meaning. We use it so loosely and don't really think of what loosing it really means until we see something like what I saw. There in their shallow graves of the cotton field lay all the memories, gifts of love and trinkets passed down from generations. These families will never be able to replace those things with all the money in the world. Many times we don't stop and think of that side of their loss. We tend to focus on the expensive things not the priceless.


While I was cleaning up debris, I was mulling over all that I had taken in that day and was very discouraged. I began to grab big chunks of brick and wood that was piled a couple of feet deep and in the midst of all the rock and ruble I uncovered a bible. I was very surprised that it was in one piece. There were a few pages that were dogeared but it was virtually undamaged while I had found hundreds of other books torn to pieces and soaking wet. It wasn't a few more minutes and I found a crystal heart tree ornament and it was unblemished. It totally blew my mind... to say the least.


The more I have meditated on this the more this thought comes to mind. In all the destruction and chaos we can still find God's truth and love. His pure and righteous heart still stands strong through all of this devastation and we have to choose to see it. I am not going to stand here and try to tell you that the bible I found was untouched because it was God's word. I am sure there were bibles shredded by that storm, but I do believe that was a message I needed at that moment. I had started wandering the big question....WHY?..... I don't know why but I do know that as long as God's people are willing to listen and act in love God will continue to use this disaster for His glory. Please remember all affected by this storm either directly or indirectly and find a way to help mend a broken heart.