(The second in my current series of postings ; relating stories of kindness, compassion, 
                       hope and heroism in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)

The American small town, once iconized as the haven of kindness, togetherness, and “neighborly” support and nurture, has seen its image somewhat weakened in recent years. Amid political “red vs. blue” state discussion, small town America has been, at times, characterized as the bastion of  intellectually repressed, backward thinking individuals. Even the image of closeness has been replaced with one of insular, suspicious (of “outsiders”), meddling people.

Aunt Bea and Sheriff Andy seem to have gone the way of Burma Shave signs.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the value of the small community and its image are being resurrected.

Monticello, Arkansas, truly a SMALL community (less than 10,000 residents), lies on the fringe of the area affected by the storm. Stories of the support this town’s members have given evacuees have begun to filter out, and they revive the image of the kind, supportive, close family of the traditional “small town”. Malachi Ohrabka relates his family’s experience there:

Subject: My Hurricane Story — evacuation

Story: My family and I had to run to a small town in Monticello, Arkansas, where all the locals have been so unbelievably good to us. My kids, being three and five, are taking this trip as a vacation instead of a disaster. They believe it’s a modern day Mayberry mixed with Disney world. All the local churches and businesses have been very giving. My father-in-law was able to get his medicine “free”, and myself,  thanks to Mr. Barnes, a “free” but very nice haircut. All I can say; in a time of need this little town of 9,000 stepped up and filled all the doubts of if they are STILL VERY DECENT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THE ANSWER IS DEFINITELY yes. Monticello, thank you for being a true home away from home. God bless you and thank you so much.. your new friend Malachi  (Email: moppo75@yahoo.com.  from Nola.com blog site, Aug 31)

On the same site, Theresa Cormier reports her experience with Monticello:

Subject: My Hurricane Story — Monticello, Arkansas Hospitality

Story: My family and I are evacuees from Marrero, Louisiana. The support that we had from (the) Monticello, Arkansas Community is unbelieveable. The whole community has opened up their hearts to not only us, but to all the the evacuees. Dad’s Place has provided us with use of the internet, free of charge. First Assembly of God Church, along with all of the churches have pooled together to offer free meals, clothing, shelter, games for the children and any other assistance that they can provide. Every place that we go, people ask if there is anything that they can assistant (sic) us with. It is amazing how this whole community has open(ed) up its heart and support to all of the evacuees. My family and I are forever grateful. Someday soon, I hope to be able to repay some of this kindness. Monticello will be in my prayers as well as in my heart for all their kindess and support that they showed to all of us. (Email: cormier798@aol.com  , Aug 31)

Apparently Mayberry, in the best sense, is alive and well.

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I am going, at least for now, to be posting stories of hope, compassion, heroism and kindness in the “wake” of Hurricane Katrina.

“My wife and I arrived in New Orleans on Friday, August 26th and were staying at the Holiday Inn in the French Quarter when the hurricane arrived. We lost power and running water on Monday morning around 6:30 a.m. The Hotel Manager, Mr. Darius Grey, and his staff were very professional and compassionate at the same time, they made sure the guests had something to eat and bottled water to drink. A portion of the New Orleans police used the lobby as a command center. As the situation continued to deteriorate in the streets the guests were asked to evacuate to the Convention Center on Tuesday, August 30th.

By the Grace of God we were sent a savior in the form of William Johnson, Director of Security for the hotel. Mr. Johnson was evacuating to Galveston Texas,  where he had sent his family earlier in the week and offered to give us a ride to Galveston with him, this man didn’t know my wife and me from the “Man in the Moon” but was willing to take us with him. Once he had secured the hotel with the help of some of his staff he packed us into his Saturn Ion and we began our trip from “Armageddon”.

William checked on his house in Jefferson Parish and found the streets filled with water. The car stalled in the water and we pushed it to higher ground and walked to his home for a closer inspection of any possible damage. The exterior of the home looked to be in good shape with some shingles missing and water up to his drive way. We then made our way back to his vehicle and got it operating again only to have it stall in high water once again. The vehicle was started again and we began a search for an exit from the New Orleans area. We headed North trying to get to Highway 10 only to find roads impassable due to downed trees and power lines, in fact one line we couldn’t see in the dark cut the face of the car just below the headlights and went across the hood, windshield and roof. A little further down the road an officer with the Louisiana State Police directed us to a levy, which we drove across the top of (picture an area a little wider than a bike path) until we were free of the area with the downed trees and power lines.

We finally got on I-10 west for Baton Rouge and Galveston. We were very low on fuel but made it to Baton Rouge where we filled up and continued onto Galveston, TX. We had left the New Orleans area at approximately 9:00 p.m. and arrived in Galveston around 3:00 a.m. William dropped us at the Holiday Inn on Seawall Street in Galveston where my wife and I were able to get a room. The next morning William and his family picked us up at the hotel and drove us to Bush Intercontinental Airport where Northwest Airlines honored our tickets from New Orleans to Detroit. We boarded the 4:07 p.m. flight for Detroit and safety. I cannot say enough about the kindness and concern this man showed my wife and I. I will be writing a letter to the Holiday Inn main office to let them know how wonderful this man and the entire staff at the Holiday Inn in New Orleans and Galveston were to us. I don’t plan on losing track of William as I consider this man as the person who saved my wife’s and my life,

 God Bless You Mr. William Johnson.”

(from MSNBC: Citizen Journalists Report)

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 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  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 took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 
 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’  
“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
Matthew 25:31-40

Isaiah 51:9-11

  ⁹ Awake, awake, put on strength,
      O arm of the LORD!
      Awake as in the ancient days,
      In the generations of old… 
     
       ¹⁰ Are You not the One who dried up the sea,
      The waters of the great deep;
      That made the depths of the sea a road
      For the redeemed to cross over? 

       ¹¹ So the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
      And come to Zion with singing,
      With everlasting joy on their heads.
      They shall obtain joy and gladness;
      Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

       ¹² “ I, even  I, am  He who comforts you.

Psalm 69

    ¹ Save me, O God,
       for the waters have come up to my neck.

    ² I sink in the miry depths,
       where there is no foothold.
       I have come into the deep waters;
       the floods engulf me.

    ³ I am worn out calling for help;
       my throat is parched.
       My eyes fail,
       looking for my God.

      ⁵ You know my folly, O God;
       my guilt is not hidden from you.

    ⁶ May those who hope in you
       not be disgraced because of me,
       O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
       may those who seek you
       not be put to shame because of me,
       O God of Israel.

     ¹³ But I pray to you, O LORD,
       in the time of your favor;
       in your great love, O God,
       answer me with your sure salvation.

    ¹⁴ Rescue me from the mire,
       do not let me sink;
       deliver me from those who hate me,
       from the deep waters.

    ¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
       or the depths swallow me up
       or the pit close its mouth over me.

    ¹⁶ Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
       in your great mercy turn to me.

    ¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant;
       answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

    ¹⁸ Come near and rescue me;
       redeem me because of my foes.

       ²⁹ I am in pain and distress;
       may your salvation, O God, protect me.

    ³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song
       and glorify him with thanksgiving.

    ³¹ This will please the LORD more than an ox,
       more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

    ³² The poor will see and be glad—
       you who seek God, may your hearts live!

    ³³ The LORD hears the needy
       and does not despise his captive people.

    ³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,
       the seas and all that move in them,

    ³⁵ for God will save Zion
       and rebuild the cities of Judah.
       Then people will settle there and possess it;

    ³⁶ the children of his servants will inherit it,
       and those who love his name will dwell there.

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Praying for the quick relief of suffering for those affected by the storms around New Orleans.(My son’s Military Police unit is on its way there as of this post.)

…..Jim

“Do not suffer yourself to get excited by what is said about you. Let the world talk. Do you strive to do the will of God; as for that of men, you would never succeed in doing it to their satisfaction, and it is not worth the pains.

Let the water flow beneath the bridge. Let men be men; that is to say, weak, vain, inconsistent, unjust, false, and presumptuous. Let the world be the world still; you can not prevent it. Let every one follow his own inclination and habits: you can not recast them, and the best course is to let them be as they are and bear with them. Do not think it strange when you witness unreasonableness and injustice; rest in peace in the bosom of God: He sees it all more clearly than you do, and yet permits it. Be content to do quietly and gently what it becomes you to do, and let everything else be to you as though it were not.

Do not be vexed at what people say. Let them speak while you endeavor to do the will of God. A little silence, peace, and communion with God will compensate you for all the injustice of men. We must love our fellow-beings without depending on their friendship. They leave us, they return, and they go from us again. Let them go or come; it is the feather blown about by the wind. Fix your attention upon God alone in your connection with them. It is He alone who, through them, consoles or afflicts you. Do not suffer yourself to get excited by what is said about you. Let the world talk. Do you strive to do the will of God; as for that of men, you would never succeed in doing it to their satisfaction, and it is not worth the pains.

Do not be vexed at what people say. Let them speak while you endeavor to do the will of God. A little silence, peace, and communion with God will compensate you for all the injustice of men. We must love our fellow-beings without depending on their friendship. They leave us, they return, and they go from us again. Let them go or come; it is the feather blown about by the wind. Fix your attention upon God alone in your connection with them. It is He alone who, through them, consoles or afflicts you.”

FENELON, FRANCOIS DE SALIGNAC DE LA MOTHE (1651-1715), Abp. of Cambrai

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I was doing some reading from the archives of “le Penseur reflechit“, when I encountered reference to Francois Fenelon. A cursory reading about him revealed an unusual, sincere man who sought to follow God.The above was among his writings, and I found it very moving. Hoping it will enrich you as well.

Be God’s…Jim

Talk about putting your faith into action! I’m not quite sure how I feel about this…but this is about as far-reaching as it comes. What think you(all)?

Time Magazine

Warren of Rwanda
The best-selling megapastor wants to turn the genocide site into the first “purpose-driven nation”
By DAVID VAN BIEMA

Aug. 22, 2005

In fact, their bond now extends well beyond prayerful embrace. Kagame has committed his government to cooperation in a five-to-seven-year self-sufficiency project staffed by Rwandan volunteers but initiated, advised and at least partly funded by Warren’s network of “purpose-driven churches.” Warren talks of turning Rwanda into “the first purpose-driven nation.”

For months the clergyman has alluded in general terms to an immense volunteer effort called the PEACE plan, aimed at transforming 400,000 churches in 47 nations into centers to nurse, feed and educate the poor and even turn them into entrepreneurs. Its details remain unknown, but its Rwandan element seems to have outrun the rest. Warren says he was “looking for a small country where we could actually work on a national model,” and Kagame, impressed by The Purpose-Driven Life, volunteered Rwanda in March. In July Warren and 48 other American Evangelicals, who have backgrounds in areas like health, education, micro-enterprises and justice, held intensive planning meetings with Rwandan Cabinet ministers, governors, clergy and entrepreneurs. One dinner was attended by a third of the Rwandan Parliament. Says Scott Moreau, a professor of missiology at Wheaton College in Illinois: “I’ve never heard of this level of cooperation in the last 100 years between any megachurch, mission agency or even a denomination and a national government.”………………..

Rwandan officials are eager to get started. “The program seems like something that will lift our country in many ways,” says Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports Joseph Habineza. The project also enjoys the moral support of White House faith-based initiatives czar James Towey, who says, “In the past, government has been indifferent or hostile toward efforts such as this one. That is not the case with this Administration.”

Yet there are some skeptics. Many missions professionals regard short-term site visits by faith-driven amateurs as inefficient. Then there is the program’s improvisational aura. “I’m cheering ‘em on,” says Wheaton’s Moreau. “In Africa, programs appearing well connected can instantly attract a mass of people. But I wonder how many at Saddleback have the cross-cultural experience to convert that [enthusiasm] to feet on the ground.” Says Furaha Mugisha, editor of the Rwandan newspaper Umuseso: “I think [Warren] has good intentions. Some people may benefit. But he is not different from other pastors we have seen. You won’t hear much about his plan after the rally.”

University student Antoinette Mukashema is hopeful. “There are lots of people promising to move mountains and change lives,” she allows. “Often I don’t trust them. But this guy has a workable plan. Let us give him time and see.” –With reporting by Gabriel Gabiro/Kigali”

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Along with others, I am hoping that Warren and his team are able to carry this through..the goal is laudable; I have some long-standing biases re: church-government alliances, details seem sketchy, and I don’t want to see an effort in the name of Christ fail, and give non-christians another stumbling block to faith …but I’m willing/hoping to see the possibilities for change that seem possible.

Again, what think you? Good? Bad? Crazy? Lofty?

Be His…Jim

Hey, Xangaworld! I’m working 12 hours a day right now, and it’s really INconvenient for web stuff( I usually just fall asleep minutes after getting home),,,the biggest pain is not having time to get online for more than a minute or two and follow what everyone is “doing”.

…keep the faith, all!

   ” Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

    And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing …. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Be God’s…Jim

“An Act of Hope and Confidence in God”

My God, I believe most firmly that You watch over all who hope in You, and that we can want for nothing when we rely upon You in all things; therefore I am resolved for the future to have no anxieties, and to cast all my cares upon You.

People may deprive me of worldly goods and of honors; sickness may take from me my strength and the means of serving You; I may even lose Your grace by sin; but my trust shall never leave me. I will preserve it to the last moment of my life, and the powers of hell shall seek in vain to wrestle it from me.

Let others seek happiness in their wealth, in their talents; let them trust to the purity of their lives, the severity of their mortifications, to the number of their good works, the fervor of their prayers; as for me, O my God, in my very confidence lies all my hope. “For You, O Lord, singularly have settled me in hope.” This confidence can never be in vain. “No one has hoped in the Lord and has been confounded.”

I am assured, therefore, of my eternal happiness, for I firmly hope for it, and all my hope is in You. “In You, O Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded.”

I know, alas! I know but too well that I am frail and changeable; I know the power of temptation against the strongest virtue. I have seen stars fall from heaven, and pillars of firmament totter; but these things alarm me not. While I hope in You I am sheltered from all misfortune, and I am sure that my trust shall endure, for I rely upon You to sustain this unfailing hope.

Finally, I know that my confidence cannot exceed Your bounty, and that I shall never receive less than I have hoped for from You. Therefore I hope that You will sustain me against my evil inclinations; that You will protect me against the most furious assaults of the evil one, and that You will cause my weakness to triumph over my most powerful enemies. I hope that You will never cease to love me, and that I shall love You unceasingly. “In You, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded.”

Claude de la Colombiere, S.J., 1600′s

(slightly edited to contemporary English)

^1[a] To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

      ³ No one whose hope is in you
       will ever be put to shame… 

from Psalm 25

(click on the link above for an audio reading of Psalm 25 ..you’ll want to turn the music off first)
   

A Portrait of Peace

Many years ago, an Emperor of China spent much of his life in the pursuit of personal peace. He studied the philosophers, and listened to many wise teachers. He decided that to enhance the environment in his private chambers,  he needed a painting of peace.

He sent out a call for a competition among all the artists in the land to produce such a painting, to be judged by his wisest teachers, and, if a suitable representation was found, to be rewarded handsomely. many beautiful works were submitted and judged, Many were rejected.

Finally the judges told the emperor that they felt they had a worthy candidate, and invited him to see for himself.

The emperor entered the hall with hundreds of submissions, and as he strode past the rejected candidates toward the proposed “winner”, something caught his eye.

To one side of the great hall, among many serene, pastoral scenes of beauty and rest. hung something odd.

It was a painting of great skill like the others, but very different; instead of sunny fields,or calm children’s faces, or placid pools, this painting portrayed a turbulent waterfall, the cataracts of which tumbled in toruous fashion over high, jagged cliffs.

There was a dark, wind-blown scene at the top of the cliffs, and the sky was ominous, full of black clouds. Lightning was striking nearby, and the trees in the scene were ripped by winds.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked the emperor.”did the artist not understand the task?”

No one had an answer.

“Bring me this artist,” said the emperor , “that I may question him.”

The  artist was sought and led forth.

“Tell me;” said the ruler,”the meaning of this work.Did you not understand that I wished a painting of perfect peace?”

“Yes, your highness,” responded the elderly painter. “I fully understood your royal request.Perhaps if your majesty were to look a little closer at the waterfall, my message would be clearer.”

The emperor did so. At first he saw nothing. Suddenly a small detail caught his eye. In the midst of the waterfall, about halfway up, was a very small tree; a branch, really, which had somehow found purchase on a small crop of rock in the center of the tumult. In that wind-blown branch was a nest, and sitting in the nest,apparently singing freely, was a nightingale.

“Perfect peace, your highness,  said the man,” does not require a sunny day”

The painting was hung in the emperor’s chambers, and the artist was rewarded not only with silver, but with a place among the emperor’s wisest sages.

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Jesus has said: ” Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

God’s peace in all your “troubled waters”…Jim

Note: Aug.18…Apologies for the lack of capitalization some of you may have noticed…The system I typed this up on had a neat “all caps” font, which I discovered does not show up for everyone…I’ve edited the text appropriately….Jim

The Prayer of the Chalice

Father, to Thee I raise my whole being
-a vessel emptied of self.  Accept, Lord,
this my emptiness, and so fill me with
Thyself – Thy Light,  Thy Love,  Thy
Life – that these Thy precious Gifts
may radiate through me and over-
flow the chalice of my heart into
the hearts of all with whom I
come in contact this day
revealing to them
the beauty of
Thy Joy
and
Wholeness
and the
serenity
of Thy Peace
which nothing can destroy.

I am buried in some end-of-summer, preparing-for-fall details, and am getting ready for a short trip …I didn’t think I’d be posting for a while…but saw this on a church bulletin Sunday,and liked the metaphor of our lives as empty chalices,(earthen or otherwise); emptied of self,waiting to be filled with God’s Spirit, and then ready to be poured out for others.

“See” you all in a few days or so!

God’s Peace…Jim