9.9.17-What the storms of Harvey and Irma can teach us.

Saturday

9.9.17

5.30pm

I was watching lines of people outside of shelters in Florida this afternoon and remembered three  special dates in my life.  I began thinking of the hard circumstances these people were in.  In that part of Florida, more people than shelter space and the storm is coming.  

There are probably some church buildings that are strong, brick buildings and some with canned goods and plenty of soft pews to sit and sleep on that are there nearby but not being opened and used.  I do understand completely.   I have been in that type situation many times, but especially three times came back to me today.

4.20.99

11.19am, MST, Erick Harris and Kylan Klebold entered the Columbine High School campus and started killing their fellow students.

It was 5 pm before I got to the building where parents were waiting to hear if their students had been murdered.  They waited for news in the gym and I have never seen such sight.  Though I was a minister who had been working with youth in the area for many years I didn’t go there to offer my help until later in the afternoon.  Many of my coworkers and responded earlier.  I wish I had.

9.11.01

6.46 am, MST, five hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the northern façade of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

It was 1pm before I posted on our church sign on a major street in Denver that our building was open for prayer and a quiet spot.  People started quietly stopping and coming in.   A steady stream came until the evening when a large number gathered together for fellowship and prayer for our nation.   I wish I had done what I could have done earlier.

Do what you can as soon as you can to help others in traumatic times.

7.20.12

12.30am, MST, James Eagan Holmes entered the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora Colorado.  I woke up at about 4am and turned on the news.   I grabbed some clothes and went to the local hospital waiting room.  I was able to have some time of support and prayer with the family members of those in surgery.

I learned something on these days that I still need to be reminded of.

Do what you can.  When you can.  While you can.

Pray.

Pray that you will do something in addition to pray.

If you have access to a strong brick building especially if you have a basement.  This might be your home.  It might be a church.  It might be a school.  Let the people in charge know you are opening a shelter if you can. 

Open it as a shelter to those stuck out in the open if you possibly can.

I made some foolish mistakes on these three dates.  I did a little something, but it was later than I could have and I wish I would have helped earlier.

So if you are able to do this open your shelter to others out in the open during this storm.  I know many of you have already opened your heart and offered.  I know many of you are doing this right now.  I know that many of you have not decided to do anything yet because you are not sure what you could do.  Let the authorities know you are there are how you are ready to help.  They probably need you to help them.

Wouldn’t it be great if after these two big storms, Harvey and Irma that the word, “Church” brought to mind those who opened their buildings up and helped people?

Matthew 25.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

James 2.

¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Larry Wishard

9.9.17

7.21 P.M. CDT