Life in the Rearview

Whoever said that life isn't a bed of roses, lied. Life is exactly like a bed of roses: full of the beautiful fragrance and vibrant vitality of life, interwoven with the bittersweet memories of remembrance, and thorns along the way to remind us that we're "not all that" and it's not all about us. 

It's funny, (though 'funny' isn't the best word to use, I'm not sure how else to describe it), how God can take a horrendous, destructive act of nature, and even in the midst of suffering, pain, and the "OMG! What do I do now?" feelings and turn it into a blessing in disguise. Seriously. 

The tornadoes that ravaged my fair state for 24 hours on April 27th spawned more than death and destruction. In the aftermath, I've seen a community knit closer together; the spirit of charity and love rekindled; perfect strangers reaching out to help; pastors and youth ministers rolling up their sleeves and doing hard labor alongside the roughest beer-drinking rednecks you'll ever see (this IS Alabama!). I've seen churches being the hands and feet of Jesus, sheltering the now homeless, the orphaned, and providing for the broken and downhearted, ministering to their souls and restoring their spirit.

Following the poisoning of the oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn by Harvey Updyke, an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, you'd think you'd never see the day when an Auburn fan would reach out to a *insert aghast stage whisper here* Bammer! Yet following the reports of the near annihilation of Tuscaloosa, and whadaya get? The Toomer's  For Tuscaloosa Facebook page mobilizing Auburn fans nationwide to help. And help we have! Miracles in shoe leather, a strong back, and a willingness to help. More than just willingness; it's more like a gut-wrenching need that you can't control. I know. I've felt it. 

The morning following, I was consumed by the feeling that I had to "do something!" I didn't know what.....just SOMETHING to help in any way I could! As a result, I've experienced a lot of "firsts," but I shall leave that for another day, as this post has taken on a life of it's own and is headed in a different direction than it's original intent....a result, not surprising, I suppose, considering the rambling way my mind diverges in the blink of an eye from one random thought to another.  But I digress. 

Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs. Some people believe faith is a crutch for "weak, uneducated dumbasses" (new blog about this is in the works too!). Yet,  as a person of faith, I wonder how people "without faith" get thru tragedies of Biblical proportion such as this and retain their sanity? I use the term "without faith" loosely, because, in reality, everybody has faith; the only difference is the Object of our faith.

There were 47 tornadoes in Alabama on April 27, 2011, including 5 EF-3, 9 EF-4 and 1 EF-5.   To put it in perspective, if you add up the  lengths of all the tornadoes we had in Alabama on April 27th, we had 1165 MILES of damage....roughly the driving distance from Montgomery, Alabama to Toronto, Canada. (0_o)

I've seen, with my own eyes, the destruction from Sand Mountain, Shoal Creek, Ohatchee, and Eclectic. I recognized names on the list of those who had died, all the way from Pisgah, Bryant, and Flat Rock in northeast Alabama to Eclectic in south-central Alabama.  I can't speak for everyone, nor all communities, but this tragedy has made my community, my state, more of a family. The walls and barriers of race, religion, and even college football affiliation, have been breached as we have come together to recover from this disaster.

I broke down in tears at the Elementary school when I saw the black ribbons on the doors for the little girl who had been killed the night of the storm.  At the Middle School I sobbed during the Awards Ceremony as the husband of a science teacher sang "I Will Praise You In The Storm".   I cried with a friend of long years who had lost so much materially, but the Lord preserved her treasure in earthen vessels and her faith has kept her strong for her family. I saw this same tiny woman brave the hoards of FEMA and refuse government assistance, vehemently and loudly, to about 20 people, vocally proclaiming her faith as she continues to trust God for provision and direction.

I cried in thankfulness that my Mama was kept safe while the three houses next to hers were demolished. I have cried until I have no tears left....just dry wracking sobs shaking my body. I had a hard time, trying to wrap my mind around it all. Mentally trying to process and compartmentalize it  just seemed an overwhelming task. Unfathomable.

Now that I'm looking at the events of 27 April in the rearview,  I've come away with a stronger faith in God and an even deeper realization that God is good, all the time. While in the midst of terrible tragedy, He still blesses us above and beyond what we deserve. He reaches out to us through the words and actions of His people and He puts us in the lives of others who come alongside us in times of tragedy who may not know Him personally, to initiate a game of Divine Tag.  I WILL praise Him in the storms life hurls my way! To do less would be that of the most reprehensible ingratitude.. 

L8R Dayz,

Starr