Where My Faith Is

If you read my last three posts, you know that Hurricane Helene chose violence when she made her way through my neck of the southern woods. If you haven't read my last three posts, Hurricane Helene paid my neck of the southern woods a visit and chose violence.  Our house has minor damage when compared to some of our fellow Vidalians/Toombs County citizens. The tarp on my roof... the 4x4 boards on bottle jacks that are adding support to the porch roof drive me crazy, but our house is habitable. I have friends who cannot live in their homes because the damage sustained is extreme. Roof, widespread structural,  and foundation injuries have displaced them to rental housing, motorhomes, and campers.  The tangible repercussions of Helene are overwhelming. The emotional fall out is, at times, crushing.  There are all sorts of helpful things you can say. But I am BEGGING you...in the name of all that is good and kind...do not ask:

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

This hurricane didn't happen because my faith faltered. The shingles didn't peel off the roof because I was afraid of the storm. My friend isn't living in a camper in her front yard because she didn't believe deeply enough that God would protect her and her home. There are things beyond the realm of human control. Hurricanes are just one of many. My faith hasn't moved. In fact, my faith is why I was able to cat nap for the two hours we spent in our closet as the storm raged around us. My faith is what compelled me to jump in with the neighborhood chain gang and help clear a drivable path. My faith is what gave me strength to drive away from my house for three days while waiting for Mr. Snark to complete his scheduled night shift. Faith is what fueled the various churches as they prepared hot meals and sack lunches for the community. Faith is what allowed us to take one more step, drag one more branch, take one more cold shower...crank that generator one more time. Faith is why we gathered in church one week after the storm and just about worshipped the roof off the building, out of pure gratitude for lives spared. 

For me, personally, faith kept me upright. Being overwhelmed by something as staggering as a hurricane is no sin. Being scared, confused, angry, bewildered...numb...(yes, numb, because feeling multiple feelings at one time is a nasty side effect of something this traumatic and your mind/heart will just shut down) is not a crime. Feeling helpless and longing for our pre-Helene lives isn't wrong. Where it becomes a problem is when we long term waller (local vernacular applied) in it. When these big feelings are allowed to stifle and stagnate us, when they are used as excuses for bad behavior...well, that's something altogether different. We aren't talking about that.  

I'll tell you where my faith is. My faith is in a big God. THE God. Not some little "g" god that can be displaced or replaced by the changing of the wind. My faith is in THE God of the universe. He created the day and the night, put the stars in the heavens, filled the oceans with all sorts of amazing critters, gave the zebras their stripes, and comically long legs to the shockingly pink flamingos. He paints a sunset and sunrise every day and they defy any color created by Sherwin Williams.  He composed the notes in a baby's first laugh.  His artistry is seen in every season and in every part of the natural world. What kind of Creator quakes at the questions of his creation?  Is he diminished by our frailties? Is his omnipotence lessened when I wobble? Do you think the Israelites were without doubt or fear when the reached the edge of The Red Sea? Job lost everything (except his less than helpful wife and his even less helpful friends) and was so overwhelmed that he tore his clothes and sat in ashes.  Mary and Martha were blinded by grief over the loss of their brother. When the storm threatened to capsize their boat, the disciples were terrified. God parted The Red Sea for the Hebrew children's escape...and used Moses to lead them. Oh, and Moses had his own misgivings about his leadership capability. Everything and then some was restored to Job. Mary and Martha saw their brother raised to life even though he had been in the tomb for three days. Jesus spoke one word to the wind and the terror that paralyzed those disciples turned to wonder.  

My faith and that of my friends who have been displaced from their homes is exactly where it was before we met Hurricane Helene...rooted firmly in the God of the Ages...the One who never changes...the One who was, is and ALWAYS will be.

Any other questions?