Humanity Comes Alive When Disaster Strikes
Hurricanes Irma, Ian, and Helene…
The outbreak of tornadoes in the Midwest…
And, most recently, the wildfires consuming California… all devastating natural disasters that destroyed property and disrupted or even took the very lives of some who were in their path. The communities hit by these monsters no one can control are currently in various stages of rescue, recovery, and rebuilding. Ours is one of them.
As we work through clean up, as we begin the rebuilding, we are found helping one another. In some cases, we’re meeting our neighbors for the first time. We pass their home every day on the way to work, but today is when we introduce ourselves before quickly asking how can we help.
Opening Our Eyes and Our Hearts
The neighborhood communication system opens again, this time not with complaints about a dog or traffic, but a post to make all aware that our mail carrier lost everything she had—her home, furniture, clothing—and was living in a shelter. The community was asked to help, providing furniture, money a place to live until she could get back on her feet, which they did. Her name is Monica. Most of us hadn’t bothered to learn her name before this disaster.
As the communication sources gained ground, the devastation that seemed overwhelming in our immediate community paled to what had happened 30 miles away. Families whose possessions were meager before the storm’s arrival were left with even less. Flatbed trailers were parked in local church parking lots, loaded with diapers, wipes, water, clothes, and other necessities needed to bridge life while waiting for further assistance.
The moment the local churches restored their power, they opened their doors—not to hold services and pray (although prayers were offered fervently from all corners of our community in this season), but to meet real needs. The volunteers who arrived at the church doorsteps were tasked with preparing and serving meals to thousands, offering plugins to charge cell phones, handing out water, and even setting up movies for kids in the activity room as a distraction from the “when will we get back to normal?” refrain.
Why Does It Take a Disaster?
Why does it take a disaster for compassion to be demonstrated to those around us? To notice the individuals who serve us every day, to acknowledge their hard work or learn their name? As much as we all would love to avoid life’s disasters, we can’t.
As we find ourselves glued to the weather channel willing the hurricane’s turn out to sea or waiting to hear how much of the blaze has been contained, we realize we are faced with one of those we-have-no-control-of-life moments. Experiences and choices will be forced upon us that violently remove the “normal.” We will choose what we do and how we act when those days come. The worst of who we can be can show its ugly face, but the best, most compassionate side of our nature will very often rise up. We become the best of who we are.
Humanity Comes Alive When Disaster Strikes
It is a disaster that levels life, forcing us to rely upon one another, to look past economics, race, and culture. It is disaster that levels life’s playing field, reminding us that we are all in this thing together, stronger when we join forces and reach across the artificial barriers we place between us.
Maybe it takes disaster to remind us of what we should be, what we can be. Maybe it does take a disaster to create the bridge between one another. May we take the understanding disaster brings into our everyday purpose.
Recognizing the needs of others when life becomes normal again, asking and remembering a name, saying thank you to those we often don’t notice, caring for those who don’t have when we do. Yes, it appears it takes a disaster to open our eyes and change our hearts. As we begin to rebuild and re-enter our normal, my prayer is this: May we not waste it.
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When hard times hit, it’s not easy to feel thankful. This podcast episode will help you tap into a spirit of gratitude, even on life’s hardest days: If You’re Looking for a Reason to Be Thankful Today – 257
