Responding to Oklahoma

This has been a horrible week for people in Tornado alley. They now suffer storms in the aftermath of an EF-5 tornado as the rescue operation desperately continues. Those of us who have never had buildings ripped off around us and watched our belongings and memories turn into toothpicks within minutes cannot understand the sudden shock and magnitude of loss. The ones who "only" lost their homes are the fortunate ones. There are many families who must also face the loss of a child or other loved one on top of the horror.

I finally had to turn the channel because it was just too much for me to hear as a compassionate onlooker. I can do that, but the people in Oklahoma can't close their eyes or change the channel to make the images go away. This is their life now and for a very long time to come. Long after the media has moved onto the next story, the clean up and rebuilding will continue. As we have learned from other natural disasters, there will be lots of waiting. Waiting for government assistance, for insurance, for shipments, for news and for reconstruction. Waiting for time to take them farther and farther away from yesterday.

With children hearing about this and not living locally, sometimes we wonder what we can do. Well we can do plenty!

• First and ongoing: Pray! Nothing replaces the power of hearts connected to God. Pull out a map of the area and show your kids. Sit together and specifically ask God to touch and heal lives.
• Find some positive stories in the midst of the disaster (like the elderly lady who found her dog alive in the rubble today) and thank God for hope.
• Visit your local Red Cross and donate blood. After 9/11 a number of our friends did that and we lived in California. 
• Sign up to be a volunteer. No matter where you serve, you are making a difference. Many cities have non-profit food packing facilities or food shelters. Help is always needed.
• When Katrina hit, I organized a diaper and water bottle drive at our church in Minnesota. These donations were merged with other organizations sending trailers south. What is your church doing?
• Check online to see the relief work already in place there and contact venues to see what is needed. In just a couple minutes I learned that Journey Church in Moore is a staging area for disaster relief and the Convoy of Hope that feeds the hungry is hard at work getting supplies to the victims.
• Sit down and color with your kids. Have them draw their feelings and reassure them. Or, have them color pictures and write notes and deliver them to a local hospice or senior citizen home. There is nothing like an art or craft outlet for our emotions.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head that hopefully nudge our need to do something positive to counteract tragedy. They of course follow parental acknowledgement and reassurance. We don't want to focus on the devastation - we want to see the bigger picture and do what we can to help rebuild and support those in their time of need. Just don't forget to keep praying, when the spotlight is removed the need will still be there.