I was going to work on post about hunting dogs tonight but I keep thinking about something I saw at church this morning. There is an image that I can’t get out of my head and sharing it here seems the best way to process it.
On Friday several large tornadoes ripped through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. At least 37 people lost their lives, including 21 in my state. Ironically, as I was rushing my family into the basement on Friday afternoon I was thinking not about what might happen to us but what had already happened to others.
About thirty minutes before sirens went off in our county, Indiana had already been hit hard. Henryville, IN is about 20 miles north of Louisville. It has gotten a lot of attention in recent days because so much of the town was devastated by what is now classified as an EF-4 and a possible second EF-3 tornado. The folks there had plenty of warning but as Gov. Mitch Daniels said, we fragile humans are “no match for Mother Nature at her worst”. Luckily very few people were hurt in Henryville but many lost their homes and businesses. All of the schools are heavily damaged. It’s simply horrible.
To my east the town of West Liberty, KY also heavily damaged and lives were lost. I have friends with family in that area. They are rushing home to help in whatever way they can. They are doing what Americans seem to do best which is to help each other in times of need. And that brings me to what I saw this morning.
Kentucky and Indiana have always had a good-natured rivalry. We tease Hoosiers for being bad drivers. They tease us for being hillbillies. We both think our states are the motherland of college basketball. In a country where state borders are perhaps antiquated but yet they still mean something, it would be understandable if we in Louisville looked east towards our fellow citizens in West Liberty and let the folks in Indiana take care of Henryville. No one would blame us. But we seem to have decided as a community that we have to take care of our neighbors first.
This morning I helped in the coffee shop at church so I walked through an empty lobby at 7am. When my shift ended at noon I saw the sight I mentioned above. This was my view from the balcony.
Relief supplies poured in this morning after volunteers spent all day Saturday making calls, sending out emails and even using the church’s Facebook page to rally support. In addition to the supplies I am told that several thousand dollars was also collected. I am positive that this scene played out in churches across our city this morning. We count our blessings that Louisville was spared this time. Our hearts ache for a small community that most of us have only seen from the freeway as we drove to somewhere else. In this tough economy I am amazed at the capacity we still have to give.
What was done this morning could have been repeated anywhere else in this country. We aren’t unique or special. It is simply our turn to help. I take an enormous amount of comfort in these moments. Whatever skepticism I feel from time to time about humanity is forgotten as I write this tonight.
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
A well established organization with strong communication systems in place and little or no red tape? That’s probably why that is.Report
Good people will find a way to do good things and help those in need with or without a church. Just sayin’.Report
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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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
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
Agreed, it is a moving post. Thank you.Report
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
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
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
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
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
Thank you for sharing. I will be wishing those in your area well for days to come.Report