Hurricane Ike demands awe, respect and, to the best of our ability, an obedient response. In the face of its power our human construction of structures and systems (the means of life as we know it) has no certainty.
I know that many whose lives are directly impacted by Ike are reaching out to God and to people in "safer" places for help and support. I know there are others who are still not able or willing to lean into faith as they walk through tribulation. But their unwillingness to recognize the solidarity of the faithful heart does not mean that they are not loved by the same God who is embracing you at this moment.
These last two days have been vivid reminders of the way life can be turned upside down, inside out. First the commemoration of September 11...then the approach and hit of Ike.
There are some people who choose to stay "put" and face storms alone. In general, though, people tend to come together...they reach out to each other. Already we are hearing the stories of courageous rescues...and we are seeing the images of people sharing what they have in terms of space and resources. The emergence of compassion, generosity and the willingness to act on behalf of the other is a visible outcropping of the grace and love of God that intersects whatever we are experiencing in this world.
Why do we wait until tragedy to surrender to the call to love and serve others before ourselves? It's an important question...we don't need to wait until the answer is clear to begin to respond. Pray, give, and where/when you are able do something to remind someone of God's abundant security.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
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