In View of Katrina's First Anniversary

Over my spring break from college, I traveled to the hardest hit area of Hurricane Katrina, Pass Christian Mississippi. My Campus Crusade For Christ group and our sister group from another university teamed up and paid our own ways to help the victims after seven months. I would love to share the details of my trip and my return to the area this summer with anyone interested. However, this post is from a piece I wrote on the late night flight home after spending a week there, suffering from lack of sleep, muscle soreness, bug bites, too much caffiene on an empty stomach, and heartache from saying goodbye. And so, flowing from the depths of my heart on April 1, 2006 to you:

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What can prevail against the wind and rain of the strongest hurricane? What can withstand the force of a widespread flood? What can persevere through intense internal heartache? Love. This word encompasses much more than emotion, but includes all that is in the world. This one word gets us through life and death, joy and pain, inner and outer devastation.

Hurricane Katrina uprooted both trees and lives. Its category five winds destroyed the past historical landmarks, the present livelihoods of residents, and the future prospects of thousands upon thousands. This chaos burdened the hearts of the nation, and more so, completely drowned the hope of the victims. And so, one must ask, how did they survive not only the physical loss, but also the emotional depression? Love.

They lavished love upon one another, received love from the volunteers who abounded with love, and bounced that same love back onto those who gave it to them. This love was communicated not only through verbal blessings and thank you’s, but also through the actions of roofing, dry walling, and instillation. Above all other aspects of love rises one supreme love, a love that gives itself to all whether they accept it or not. This love is God.

God provided for every aspect of my trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi. He gave the money, the time, and the love. He taught me lessons before I left and prepared me for the struggles that I faced while I was there. I fought with inner pain over my trip, but on the last day, God provided. He calmed my heart, told me how much he loved me, and showed me how much others loved me. On my flight home, three different people paid for three different meals for my entire team of 13 people. I never asked them to; they simply felt pressed by God to show us that they loved us and appreciated our work. I was utterly overwhelmed.

God loves each of you to such a great extent, whether you like it or not. I know that he exists, but does not “work in mysterious ways.” He is shouting at the top of his lungs at you. You can see it in the glory of the California landscape after a rain, in the random flowers sprouting amidst the rubble of a wind blown home, and in the faces of those touched by his love overtly and through other people.

And so I encourage you, “Love one another.” Don’t hesitate to give the word. Don’t fear saying thank you to those who touch you. Remember to remember those who care for not only you, but humanity. Say thank you to our troops; say thank you to our doctors and nurses; say thank you to our parents; say thank you to God. Because I assure you, the blessing will impact much deeper and greater than you can imagine.

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