The Healing Begins

This picture depicts what is happening all along the path of Tuesdays tornadoes. The saying, "There but for the grace of God go I," rings in my mind.

This morning as I took my grandson back to his re-opened school, I passed an entire convoy of heavy-duty equipment and trucks headed for the devastated part of Castalian Springs. An hour earlier, I awoke, warm and safe in a house that was less than 2-3 football fields from the rubble left behind by the tornado, I gave thanks for our good fortune.

What do you do to help someone who's lost all their belongings and perhaps a loved one in such a horrific tragedy? I have no extra money to donate and I don't personally know the people who've experienced the losses. I am profoundly touched by their plight.

I saw information flash on the TV screen, announcing a number to call if you wish to help. I called it, but of course, the only recorded message was about the organizations where you could immediately go to donate cash. I guess human contact and consolation is best left to the immediate family and friends, although I'm sure there are many like me that feel saddened by that. It would have helped me to heal and feel like part of the community... that I was doing something meaningful. But short of trying to pass the police lines and go directly to those still sorting through the rubble, I'm at a loss of what else I can do but pray for the victims.

To say that Tuesday changed my perspective is an understatement. I lost nothing in the storm, rather discovered something I'd lost sight of. Respect for those men and women who volunteer to respond to emergency calls... who put their lives on hold to help others. What goes around, comes around, and those people deserve a reward for their caring and kindness. I'm sure by next week, I'll be able to put this memory behind me. I only regret it won't be that easy for the true victims of "Super Tuesday's" Tennessee tornado.