Considering the Storms

There was a storm in Minnesota a few nights ago that affected many people that I know. Trees down, power out, damaged roofs and yards, just minor things. No one I know was hurt, although I did hear about one man who died while walking down the street and a tree fell on him. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Rita is on her way to the coast – we don’t know when or where. There is already damage to the repairs that have been started in New Orleans.

I have friends and family that work for the Red Cross who are weary from Katrina, are coming home to clean up from the storm in MN and then will likely be back to work in the wake of Rita. It is a hard and tiring time for them. This is the life work that have chosen to do - and God bless them that they reach out their lives and hands to others. As I consider this work, it seems to me that more of us should be in on it. In fact isn’t it our calling as people of God to be a part of the care of creation? (Meaning people, the earth, cleaning up our messes . . . )

We are trying to figure out, here, how we can best help with the reconstruction of lives from the devastation of Katrina and possibly Rita, while still paying attention to the Tsunami victims. So much loss in the past few months. It is sad that it takes natural disasters like these to get our attention . . . it's not like there is not devastation everyday with disease, hunger, tyrannical governments and policies.

On the upside, in the wake of these disasters, there is an element of soul cleansing - people really reach out and help one another, the goodness of humanity is shown in a number of ways, and we are forced to take a close look at who we are, and what we have done (and left undone). This seems to lend some new meaning to the confession that many Lutherans repeat at the beginning of a worship gathering.

(Lutheran Book of Worship, p.56)
Merciful God,
We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ have mercy on us, forgive us, renew us and lead us, so that we may delight in you will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Holy name. AMEN

just some thoughts to consider.