Helping Our Neighbors

Mike Dwyer

Mike Dwyer is a former writer and contributor at Ordinary Times.

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18 Responses

  1. David Ryan says:

    First I am glad you and your family are okay.

    Secondly, my work used to take me into situations like this now and then. What I learned is that no one can respond faster than churches. Secular people would do well to think about why that is.Report

    • Chris in reply to David Ryan says:

      A well established organization with strong communication systems in place and little or no red tape? That’s probably why that is.Report

      • Fish in reply to Chris says:

        Good people will find a way to do good things and help those in need with or without a church.  Just sayin’.Report

        • Wardsmith in reply to Fish says:

          Fish perhaps if all those “good people” could meet with each other, perhaps on a weekly basis so they could keep in touch with ea ch other and stay coordinated their ability to be of use would be enhanced. Perhaps having met like this once a week they could begin putting some money aside on a regular basis so they’d be ready for emergencies that might crop up. Kind of like what churches have been doing for about two thousand years. Just sayinReport

          • David Ryan in reply to Wardsmith says:

            I’m pretty there were churches before the birth of Jesus. I’d also venture they were doing most of  the things you listed.Report

            • BlaiseP in reply to David Ryan says:

              Apparently the entire Egyptian religious system was geared to charity on a truly massive scale.   Every year, the Nile would rise, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.   They’d be fed from the temple granaries.Report

            • wardsmith in reply to David Ryan says:

              Dave, Blaise There were religions, but they weren’t called “churches”. Kuriakê oikia meant the Lord’s House but that wouldn’t be what the Jews would call their Temple, nor what followers of Zeus would call theirs.

              The granary of the Egyptians was used to enslave the entire population, they gave up their land to the Pharaoh in exchange for food and ever more were serfs. Some guy named Joseph did that for his boss, way back when.Report

              • BlaiseP in reply to wardsmith says:

                That’s true.   I’m only pointing out the role of religion in Egypt encompassed human needs.   Egyptian religion was startlingly humanistic, even its paradise was one of earthly delights.   They were more like us than we might suppose.   They seem to be the first kindly pet owners, they loved cats, which I find intensely appealing.Report

        • Jeff in reply to Fish says:

          Ron Paul is not good people.   His response to those struck by the tornado was “Suck it!”.   What a mench!

          What is with the GOP these days?

           Report

      • James Hanley in reply to Chris says:

        A well established organization with strong communication systems in place and little or no red tape?

        Yep, and how many of those are outside the sphere of churches?  Some, but regrettably few.Report

  2. Tod Kelly says:

    My God, that photograph is intense.  Until I started reading, I was wondering what third world country it was from.  ‘m relieved to know that you and your family are doing fine, and hope that things in that part of the county get back to normal soon.

    The post itself is inspiring.  Thanks.Report

  3. Rose Woodhouse says:

    Agreed, it is a moving post. Thank you.Report

  4. Philip H. says:

    Mike,

    As this unfolds, let us know how we can help.  I may not be able to send a case of Dinty Moore, but I can write checks with the best of them.

     

    PhilipReport

  5. Mike Dwyer says:

    Phillip – thanks so much. From what we’re hearing they are mostly in need of non-perishable food at this point. My wife and I decided to just donate to the Red Cross and let them decide how best to use the money. The reports this morning are that they are seeing record numbers of donations for a natural disaster. Makes my heart feel good.

    It will certainly be challenging today. We received 4 inches of snow last night. This is definitely going to slow down recovery efforts until it thaws tomorrow.Report

  6. Mike: Thanks for this.  I’m very glad to know that you and yours are doing alright, and our thoughts are very much with your neighbors to the north and friends and cousins to the east.Report

  7. James Hanley says:

    Mike,

    My heart goes out to both my fellow Hoosiers and my erstwhile opponents in Kentucky.  There are a lot of emotionally devastated people right now who’ve lost their homes, including a lot of children.  And a lot of the tornadoes happened at night, as I understand, when people are last prepared to respond.  It’s a testament to the human spirit that people so quickly respond with help, and that these communities nearly always manage to rebuild.Report

  8. David Bosworth says:

    Hi Mike,

    Thanks for the inspiring, caring, & thought provoking article.  The events of the past week have caused many to reflex on the pain and sorrow of those who were unfortunate to be in the path of one of these freaks of nature.  Our church came to the aid, like yours, of several hard hit areas (live near St. Louis). It is heart breaking to go to these areas where there was once thriving life but now all one can see is devastation as far as the eye can see.

    This got me to thinking about all the aid we send to foriegn countries that profess their absolute hatred for this country I was lucky enough to be born in. The thought runs through my mind, “why do we send these people aid”.  I guess the old saying about , “for those who have much, much is required”.  Then I remember a man in our church who goes to areas in St. Louis; he loads up a grill, as much food as he can gather from other folk, pays for a lot himself, and spends three days a month feeding the less fortunate in downtown St. Louis.  The sympathy as well as empathy so many have in their hearts is the reason why the U.S. does for  their neighbors be they 3 blocks, 3 miles, or 3000 miles away.  Sorry for the soapbox performance.Report

  9. Mary says:

    Thank you for sharing. I will be wishing those in your area well for days to come.Report