Florence. The Hurricane. The images of her devastation have flooded the news. We’ve seen the massive rescue operations by both first responders and citizens who arrived simply to help others. Perhaps no image was so profound as the picture of the firemen in Wilmington, North Carolina, who fought to get to a family when a massive tree crushed their home. They were able to rescue the father but were unable to save the mother and an infant. The look on their faces as they exited the house made me want to reach out and gather them all in my arms as they grieved. Soon, with all the world watching, these firemen did gather together as they knelt and prayed.
We count the cost of these disasters by tallying the number of the dead or the amount of the property damage. The toll on the survivors, however, is immense. This father that was rescued, the firefighters who witnessed the mother and infant who perished, will remember for the rest of their lives.
Disasters make us realize that it is not our politics or opinions that matter. Elections, sports, stock market ups and downs, do not count in times like this. What is important is our humanity, our compassion one for another. Brotherly love and kindness rise above our petty differences. They flourish briefly after every disaster, whether natural like Hurricane Florence or made-made as 9/11. But unfortunately, this atmosphere does not become permanent. Before too long we are back to our old ways.
The Scriptures have a lot to say about compassion and kindness and love. There are even special directions for those who claim a relationship with Christ Jesus. We would do well to remember them, not just when disasters abound, but all the time.
“As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” [Col 3:12-14]
