9/4/05

These past days our lives and hearts have been touched by the horrific disaster that has been caused by Hurricane Katrina.  We watch the faces of the people – our sisters and brothers who have suffered the devastating effects of this natural disaster.  We have seen the best of humanity – as the thousands of workers help to rescue people.  The lives that have been saved because somebody cared.  We have at times unfortunately seen the worst of what one person can do to another human being.  We as a country have not faced a natural disaster like this before.  This kind of thing happens in Asia, Africa, Latin America – but now it has come home.  For some of us in the congregation it was a terrible week – TJ’s sister in Alabama was affected by the hurricane.  Lou & Linda waited most of the week to finally hear on Friday that Lou’s daughter and family were safe in Mississippi.

  As recently as this afternoon I got a call from a family, Ken & Cathy, who fled New Orleans with their son and his partner to come here where they have family.  Cathy is a member of MCC New Orleans.

This disaster must affect us and give us pause to consider what’s really important in life.

 This is an opportunity for us to be in solidarity with those who are suffering.  Whether that is the victims of the disaster, the person who has lost her loved one this week, the man who on a daily basis is homeless, the child who faces hunger in Africa, the woman who is victimized by her culture.  We are our brother’s keeper, we are our sister’s keeper.  As our nation accepts the help offered us from around the world we recognize that we really are one human family.

 Family – Community is vital.  We can loose all of our material possessions – but people are what matters.  I was talking to someone who lived in an area of the country that was familiar with hurricanes.  And she said when we used to evacuate our homes – I would be able to only take a few possessions with us.  And in our hurricane box were pictures… that was one of the most important things for us to take.

 Pictures – the faces of our loved one, memories of our lives together were what mattered.  The time we spent together.

 What’s important?  I’m reading another book that I want to recommend to you: Tuesdays with Morrie written by Mitch Albom.  This book is a true story about Morrie Schwartz who was dying and during the last months of his life meets with Mitch on Tuesdays to share his life and wisdom with his young student.  This is an excerpt (p126-127):

 “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

Devote – give – be attentive in prayer, in word, in action to the people around you.  Don’t’ take anyone for granted.  We all know how quickly time passes, how quickly we can loose someone in our lives.  Take the time to show your love – don’t miss the opportunity to say, “I care”.  Don’t waste a minute on what’s really not important – gossip – anger – guilt.

 Take notice of the people – places 00 situations around you.  I was talking to another person this week.  This is someone who drives her car through life fast.  And she said I found myself driving slower this week.  I let people pass me by in the fast lane.  And so I asked her why she was driving slow.  She said I didn’t want to miss things.  Just like a hurricane – can change what everything looks like or remove houses, trees, everything in an instant – we too can miss the people, the places, the situations in our lives if we don’t slow down – don’t pay attention.

 Don’t take anything for granted.  Cherish the people in your lives, say think you a million times a day for food, running water, the clothes on our backs.  Use what has been entrusted to you wisely .. Give generously.  Live passionately.  Live compassionately.  Our lives – Christ’s life in us – is the gift we have to offer to our world that will make a difference.

 We have lots of homework this week:

1)       pray – for the people touched by this disaster.

2)       Do what you can to be an angel – give financially, clean out those closets and give items to our flea market.  Help someone in need in your life.

3)       Live each day to the fullest.  Love with all your heart, mind, and soul.  Thank God for all the blessings you have in your life.