Bruce's Blog, September 1, 2005

The attention of just about everyone in the United States, and much of the world, is focused on the recent Category 4 Hurricane Katrina tragedy in New Orleans and other areas of southern of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. It is estimated that at least 1,000 people are dead. Destruction is everywhere, and there are uncounted tales of woe. As I write these lines, television reports say that the helicopter crews sent in to help are to "ignore the dead and concentrate on rescuing the living" until further notice. Again and again, one hears reports about how this is one of the worst natural disasters (and certainly the most expensive one) in U.S. history. The effects will continue for many years.

Katrina reminded me of some personal hurricane-related experiences a few years ago.  Along with friends from several states, I had planned to go on another mission trip to La Romana, Dominican Republic, in mid-November of 1998. Two months before that, Hurricane Georges swept through that coastal community and caused a lot of suffering and damage.  We wondered if it would be necessary to change plans, but our hosts advised us to come.  We brought a lot of medical suppies for the Good Samaritan General Hospital and various things to donate to hurricane victims.

Georges made me think of another idea:  designing and getting custom-made t-shirts.  They had these words in Spanish, Haitian Creole and English encircling a large cross:  "Our God Is More Powerful Than Any Hurricane."  We were all wearing them upon our arrival and gave the extras to our hosts.  They were delighted and said that we couldn't have chosen a better message.

Although we saw plenty of evidence of the destruction caused by Georges, we were in a safe environment and were able to help in many ways.  We were also assured that no hurricanes had ever come ashore around there in mid-November.  Thus it was quite a surprise when, as a friend and I were helping at a small church in La Romana that was being used as a temporary medical clinic, our driver came with an urgent message.  We were to get into his truck immediately.  A category four hurricane had been spotted about 130 miles offshore, and it was headed towards us.

We were taken to the safest place available--a solid building constructed with reinforced concrete and designed to take just about any hit.  We put mattresses on the concrete floor and awaited the dawn (when the hurricane was projected to arrive.)  A lot of prayers went up that night.  Fortunately, this new hurricane changed its course and never hit land.  There was some very minor flooding for a day or two, but nothing of consequence happened.  We certainly had many reasons to count our blessings as we continued our volunteer work and then headed home to the U.S. on schedule.

What happened with Katrina was infinitely worse than my experiences, but three observations come to mind.

First, some people escaped and some did not.  Innumerable efforts were made to warn everyone along the Gulf Coast as soon as the size and projected course of Hurricane Katrina became apparent.  Most people were able to heed the warnings and evacuate.  Tragically, however, many thousands could not.  Most of those who could not escape are extremely impoverished.  They don't own a car or could not afford enough gasoline to escape if they had one.  Others were too physically weak for regular travel.  Some stayed behind to care for a family member.  They could only hope and pray for the best.

Yet others felt that because other hurricanes had not been as bad as predicted, this one probably would not be as bad as what they had heard. "We can ride it out," was a common response. Some people were successful in surviving, but many were not. "I wish that I had known that it was really going to be that bad," some of them sobbed. Hindsight is 20/20. Foresight is not.

Second, all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to help now.  Current conditions in the desperate Gulf Shore areas have been described as "Hell on earth" and "America's Tsumani."  Some medical care workers there have also had experiences helping in developing countries.  They describe working in a New Orleans hospital without electricity or basic supplies as being just as challenging as overseas mission trips.

Regardless of where you are or what you can do, you can help in some important way.  Many of the organizations in this directory are already involved or will be doing so in the near future.  Go to their websites, and you will find many examples of how you can provide hands-on or financial assistance.  Many other organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Arrmy, are doing a tremendous job.  My church is part of American Baptist Churches/USA, and we have an excellent disaster relief program called "One Great Hour of Sharing."  It's wonderful to see how people all over the world are getting involved, and each of us should do whatever we can.  Begin with prayer--and don't forget to use your checkbook!

At the same time, we should not foget the needs in other countries where equally (and sometimes even more) devastating tragedies take place--but where there are not the kind of major resources available in the U.S.  Far more people in developing countries die every day because of diseases which can be prevented very inexpensively than will be killed by Hurricane Katrina.  Are their lives any less important than ours?

Third, the news should cause all of us to reflect on our own mortality. The word "saints" is commonly used. It also refers to professional football in New Orleans and the happy old song: "When the saints—go marching in, when the saints—go marching in. Oh, how I want—to be in that number—when the saints go marching in." I've been at some Christian funerals when that was sung as the casket was carried out of the church. It seemed so very appropriate. For one who is a Christian, death is a victory, and those who die with Jesus Christ as their savior will have eternal life and truly are the saints—not just anyone who happens to like the word.

The Bible repeatedly says that the opposite is also true for those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior. Just as many of Katrina's victims who could have escaped did not heed the numerous warnings, many people will suffer eternal punishment because they did not accept the gift of salvation before it was too late. Unlike the Katrina victims, no one will be left behind because of poverty--but they will lose if they make the wrong decision about Christ.  It makes no difference whether one is rich or poor; the same eternal warning applies.

Another song has these words: "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand." If you were a hurricane victim stranded on a roof, you would be thrilled to see a rescue helicopter come and for someone to reach out his or her hand to save you from death. Have you accepted the hand that Jesus Christ extends to save you from an infinitely worse disaster?

If anyone wants to communicate with me about any of these matters, I would be glad to hear from you.  Our God Is More Powerful Than Any Hurricane!

H. Bruce Carr