Even though I have heard it countless times in my life, I still am drawn to the television each and every time that weather buzzer sounds. I want to hear what is happening, and be prepared for what is coming, be it weather, flooding, wind gusts, whatever. I am a person of structure and routine, and I don't like surprises. Lately, I have seen many who were surprised by storms of epic proportion; even though the warnings were there, I am convinced they weren't really ready. If you think about it, who is ready for that kind of devestation....my guess is nobody! How many times have we all listened to the weather report call for tornados, and we "keep an eye out" but never seriously expect to lose everything we have in a wind gust that lasts about 10 or 15 seconds??? Are we ready to look at what was once our home, our safe place, and to see a pile of rubble standing where once our dreams had stood?? I think that I will never be ready for that!
In the past month or so, I have watched news footage in amazement at the unbelievable storms and the paths of destruction they have left. My heart has ached for those who have lost loved ones to these storms. It is such a tragedy. One morning after the Alabama chaos, I read posts on Facebook, over and over, about how God had watched over a family and kept them safe. I thanked God for safety too, but be aware about how you proclaim your thankfulness...I am sure some of the people involved in those crisis situations prayed for safety. Did God ignore their prayers, or let them down? I offer a resounding NO! I became so burdened by some of those comments, I earnestly began to pray about this post. I hope not to offend anyone, ever. God is faithful and just...always. He does not make mistakes, and he loves us, ALL. There wasn't one family who suffered through that storm, that God didn't watch over, and love. Sometimes life just happens. I read a church sign that sums up the way I feel about God in the midst of our suffering...it read "Peace is the presence of the Lord, not the absence of trouble!" And that is so true. God doesn't pick certain people to suffer, but He is with them. He is love and He is good.
As I began to pray about this particular blog, I believe I began understanding about suffering, in a different light. All of those terrible storms...we saw the damage. We saw the people crying over loss and suffering. We saw some walking around the debris where there house used to be. We SAW all of that storm and it's fury. We HEARD the tragic stories. What unfolded to me, in these accounts, was how many people have F5 tornadoes in their lives everyday, that the news can't cover, and you won't read about it in the paper. How many people suffer loss and tragedy that cannot be seen or touched, because it is so deeply imbedded in their brokeness? How many people look into their own hearts and see a path of destruction that looks like it cannot be recovered or repaired?? Was God not watching over them in their time of trouble? I think He was holding them in His arms to comfort them like no one else could.
Everyday, tragedy and struggle strike people without warning. There is no emergency emotional buzzer inside of us that says "hey, get ready, trouble is coming". What we are given, however, is the Word of God, for guidance and for emergency reference. Now, in saying that, as Christians, I do not believe we are immune to hurt, or that we are beyond trials. What I do believe, is that there is a God who is always with me, with you. I have found myself, at times, asking "God, how will I make it through this??" And, each time I have felt this way, I have found an inner peace to help calm my heart and give me strength to move forward...even when my mind didn't feel like it, God was taking care of my heart. I can stand on every promise and on every truth in the Bible, to steady my shaky situations, and I shall not be moved.
On Sunday mornings, I usually watch church on TV while I get ready for church myself. One sermon stood out to me one morning as I listened to the Pastor talk about showing compassion even when you think it isn't deserved. He spoke about people having a personal 'story'. I began thinking of all the people we come in contact with on a daily basis. The waitress at Sunday lunch, the cashier at the grocery store, the teacher opening the door in the car rider line; each of these people has a story. What is it? Do you know? Do you really care? Is that person trying to pick up the pieces of an emotional storm that left a gaping hole in his/her heart? Would we treat them differently if we could see their hearts, or if we knew they were hurting? I bet we would. Sometimes, all it takes is a smile, or a kind word to began repairing a wounded soul. It is our Christian responsibility to be kind always, to continually be doers of good. I believe the heart is not openly visible because we shouldn't have to be convinced to be kind, we should be that way because we want to! Imagine what the world would be like if every person treated every person they came in contact with, as if they needed love and compassion? Yep, the world would be different.
If we begin treating others with unselfishness, and open kindness, we would begin seeing change. The love of God would become more prevelant, and the focus on "self" would dwindle rapidly. As children of God, we were not created to be all about ourselves, but to love freely, without expecting anything in return. Do you think about that when you speak to strangers? Do you walk away from a conversation knowing that you had somehow conveyed the love of God? He loves us passionately, abundantly, unselfishly, unequivicably; and He will never stop...no matter what we are going through. So, the next time you walk up to that gas station attendant who seems agitated, or rude, remember....it may have been storming in their home or heart the night before. What is the forcast at your neighbors?
By now, I hope you understand that when I say neighbors, I mean people...your friends, your coworkers, your family, and yes...even your real neighbors! Find ways to share the goodness of God!
*Matthew 25:40 (NIV) "The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
*Matthew 22:39 (NIV) "Love your neighbor as yourself."
*Hebrews 13:1-3 (NIV) "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
Blessings!
Libby
