Tip of My Iceberg

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

We’d heard of the coming of Hurricane Helene for days. The cities along the western coast of Florida, especially near the Big Bend as the panhandle juts to the left, were at the greatest risk. There was an expectation of a storm surge, flooding, and high winds that could topple trees with ease.

We were to be prepared.

Living in the central part of the state, we weren’t in as great a risk. We expected high winds and rain that would come with the bands of the hurricane. School in central Florida was cancelled for Thursday in preparation for what could be possible loss of electricity and wind damage.

We got off with very little rain, wind, or visible damage. The kids could have easily gone to school that day. Everyone around us breathed a sigh of relief.

No one considered how serious Helene could be further north in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The results there have been devastating.

Storms had been dumping many inches of rain in a brief amount of time before the hurricane actually hit. As Helene moved north, cars were floating down flooded streets and houses were carried away by the storm surge. Over one hundred people have died and over six hundred people are still missing. People were heard screaming as houses were swept away down sides of mountains. Cars flooded with people still in them.

Millions are still without power, and many areas are isolated with no way out or in other than the air. Many people are needing food and water.

The devastation has been incredible.

photo courtesy of Alexey Demidov on Pixel

I’ve heard people ask why God let this happen. It’s a mystery why we see good things as random acts of kindness and bad things as God being mad at people. In a world full of challenges and harsh realities, bad things will happen, even to good people. Harshness happens, and if God chose to intervene anytime someone might get hurt, our own free will would be questioned. There would be no way of grasping what consequences could be expected from any action, and life in general would be confusing.

Asaph, King David’s worship leader wrote: “For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.” Psalm 73:3-5. We see those around us who seem to get all the breaks, never seem to suffer, and never have the problems we experience. Those who work hard at doing right often don’t feel they have been treated fairly. Asaph went on to say: “I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.” Psalm 73:14.

Evil is real. All we have to do is take a glance at the world and see disasters, wars, hunger, and abuse happening everywhere. We shouldn’t be shocked that evil exists–we live in its presence everyday. The apostle Paul made a bold statement about people in general: “No one does good, not a single one.” Romans 3:12b.

What has happened to the Southeastern states should, however, create compassion in us for how we can help. Those of us who avoided serious damage can contribute to the aid needed by so many who have lost everything.

If we’re going to comment on the goodness of humanity, we need to follow through with actions that show we care.

This wasn’t our time for disaster.

But troubles will happen. I’d like to believe others would help us if we needed it.