In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, I find myself on my knees; heartbroken and praying for all those who are struggling to get through the day to day and recover from the damages left in her path. My home-state of Vermont was horribly impacted by the storm. The state is normally protected from the crazy winds of tropical storms because of the mountains - what makes the state so beautiful. After all, it is the Green Mountain State. This time, the mountains are the very thing that increased the destruction and devastation.
As the water receded and the damage was assessed, people quickly realized that it was than water washing over the roads and through neighborhoods. Basements had inches of mud, roads were completely gone in sections leaving chasms and beautiful, historic bridges washed away. People were dead.
People all over the East Coast were impacted by Irene. We've heard a lot about power outages and down trees. Frustrating and horribly inconvenient. However, no food? No medicine? No baby formula? No way to get supplies OTHER than to have them air-dropped or hiked in by volunteers? That is scary. There are entire towns that have been turned into "islands" in the middle of the state because all the roads out have been washed away. They are completely cut-off. It could be months before power returns to some of these places.
How does this happen? Vermont isn't along. Connecticut, New Jersey and other states have lost power and had collapsed houses and other damage. People lost lifetime memories; lost home; lost loved ones. Didn't God make a promise to not flood the earth again? Why come so close in so many places?
In Genesis 9, God makes a promise. He offers a rainbow as a symbol of that promise. In the midst of chaos and destruction and rainy storms it is hard to remain focused on the love of God. We need to remember that, as bad as it gets, God will ALWAYS be there to protect us and for us to lean on. In the rain, watch for the rainbows - it will remind you not only of His promise, but of His presence.
With Irene returning to whence it came, people are pulling together in my little home state. The love of God is being exhibited across the state as people help each other clean their houses, donate food and time and other necessities and just simply provide moral support. They are a great example of God's brotherly love - one that we can all learn from. It doesn't require hurricane destruction to help a neighbor in need, just a willing heard and a helpful attitude. We all it in us.
Genesis 9:12-17
And God said, "this is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth". So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."
No comments:
Post a Comment