We never seem to run out of natural disasters to worry about. As I write this the Gulf Coast of the United States is getting ready for the onslaught of yet another hurricane. And we are especially worried that New Orleans might be in harms way.
Natural disasters come in many forms. Like flooding. The church I am a part of is in the process of forming a mission/work team to go to Iowa to help with cleanup from the recent flooding. As a former "Iwegian", I was very interested in the news coverage of the Iowa flooding.
I found it striking how different the coverage was compared to the coverage of the Katrina disaster. Both had some great footage of water and destruction and human misery - all the stuff that makes for a great newscast. What struck me was what was missing. Having spent several years in Iowa, I was not surprised by what was missing, but I still noticed that it was missing.
I missed the hours and hours of televised whining from people who were distraught that the federal government had not ridden in on white trucks and rescued them. After Katrina everyone from the local homeowner to the governor of the state vented their frustration with the feds, especially FEMA, and their lack of a helpful and speedy response. And they were right; the feds' response was pathetic. On the other hand, we heard not a word of complaint from the fine folks of Iowa. The destruction was as overwhelming. The needs were as great. I seriously doubt that FEMA did a sterling job. Why no whining?
Perhaps it is expectations. The Iowans I lived with probably didn't expect much from the government and were not disappointed when they didn't get much. The Iowans I came to know and love are strong, intelligent and self sufficient. They don't expect to be bailed out when something goes wrong. They turn to their neighbors, their church and their own inner strength to meet difficult times. Something many others would do well to learn to do.
To me, it seems that people in Iowa are just a tad more in touch with reality than people in other parts of the country. They live life day to day looking reality right in the eye. They seem more grounded than others. We live in the day of reality television – which is not reality at all. We North Americans are, for the most part, living second hand lives. And that is unhealthy.
The Iowa flood reminded me of a "Katrina Conversation" I had a couple of years ago. It was not long after hurricane Katrina had crushed the Gulf Coast that I was chatting with a person much young than I about how the news coverage of the Katrina disaster impacted us. We both took the time to watch the extensive coverage by the broadcast and cable news sources. We both were moved to tears as we watched the news footage of the wide spread devastation and horrible human suffering the hurricane left in its wake. Our hearts broke to see such suffering, fear, pain and loss. We were both disturbed that more was not done more quickly to help the people of the Gulf Coast.
And then our paths of response parted. I have wondered why? We shared some similarities in background. I lived in Iowa – she was born in Iowa. We are both white and middle class. We are both home owners. We are both caring people. We are both pretty intelligent. But for some reason, we responded very differently. I think it has to do with being a part of a church.
My friend sat at home and quietly became depressed by the overwhelming pain of fellow countrymen and became infuriated with the incompetence of the government. This toxic mix of depression and anger was, in some ways, life changing for my friend. She has become pretty hostile toward her government. She doesn't care much for storms, either.
My experience was different. I am a part of a church that immediately responded to the disaster by gathering clothes, food, water and medical supplies and making arrangements for those goods to be delivered to the Gulf Coast. The Sunday after the hurricane came ashore; my church took a huge offering of over $10,000 that was immediately sent to meet the needs of those affected by the disaster. Within just a few weeks my church sent the first of several mission/work teams to Mississippi to physically help those in need to clean up the mess and start repairing the damage. Instead of just being enraged that the group that suffered the most from the hurricane were African-Americans, my church went to a predominately African-American community and helped some new found friends there clean up and fix up. New bonds of friendship and Christian family were connected. We laughed together, we cried together, we worked together, we ate together and we worshiped together. It was an amazing time of seeing new life rise up out of death and destruction. My heart was lifted and I rejoiced.
The government may have disappointed the people of the Gulf Coast, but the church didn't. While on a mission trip in Mississippi, everywhere I looked there were church vans from all over the country driving the roads carrying thousands of volunteers to work sites; there were church vans parked in front of wrecked homes as the work teams they had brought were busily attacking the needs at hand. It was reported that the Red Cross sent 18,000 volunteers to the disaster area. It was not reported that the Baptist Church in Texas, alone, sent 22,000 volunteers. That was just one denomination from one state but it serves to give you an idea of the tremendous response of the church to the Katrina disaster. The response from the church was truly miraculous. And that response continues.
In our society sports fans are people who sit and watch games. Christians are people who sit and watch a church service. We have reality television where one sits and watches others have experiences, deal with problems and win large sums of money. Our culture has somehow taught us that because we have seen something on television and have had some kind of emotional response to what we have seen; our experience has been true and complete. In reality, we have done nothing. We have had a virtual experience but we have not had a real experience.
And that is one of the great things the church offers; a real experience. A real experience of helping others and making a difference in their lives; a real experience of knowing God; a real experience of deep and meaningful relationships with others; a real experience of life. Jesus said, "I have come that you might have live and experience it to the fullest." (John 10:10) The church helps make that a reality in your life. Instead of going to church, let me encourage you to be the church.
Copyright © 2008, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved
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