There has been a lot of discussion and back and forth about Hurricane Helene, its devastation and whether the “government” is doing all it can to save lives, assist with rebuilding and restore normalcy. All that aside, my friend Linda Bishop was part of a church group that actually went onsite to assist those in need. She raised money, helped with supplies, and actively participated in recovery operations in Black Mountain and Swannanoa, N.C. Her report is a testament to the nature of true Americans, bonded together as sons and daughters of the one true God, with resilience, tenacity, and kindness. She shared with The Daily Jot some of that beauty she experienced in her ventures to help.
Linda writes: “Hurricane Helene left so much devastation, some beyond comprehension. My town was hit very hard and recovery continues. There are still homes without power, but businesses are open and life is getting back to normal. But, how do we processwhat we’ve seen? How do the people in the devastated areas keep going amongst the devastation, the lives lost, homes destroyed, roads gone, towns wiped out, infrastructures destroyed, and the list goes on? In the midst of this ugly destruction there is also much beauty found in the spirt of those impacted. I’ve witnessed a mountain community of about 100 homes that had at least four large mudslides and trapped people in their homes move from 50% maneuverable roads to 100% in just two days. All because the people in this little community worked hard together.
“In this same community, I witnessed the story of people who decided to leave, for now, and give their food to those who have decided to stay. I saw this little community coming together and having meals together, sharing what they have with each other. Declining our offer of supplies saying they had what they needed, they asked us to take them to others in greater need. Despite their own devastation, they were thinking beyond themselves. A woman who lived in another community put many cases of water on her front lawn so those in need could take it anytime. Turning away our supplies, she asked us to find others who needed them more. An 84-year old woman in an assisted-living home was able to get back into her apartment because some guys from another town brought a chainsaw and moved fallen trees away from her place. This woman had been sleeping on her friend’s sofa for a week.
“I witnessed a story of some people turning away a gas can full of fuel because they didn’t need it. Again, no hoarding there. That same gas can was used in the car of a young woman who was found sitting on the side of a road because she had just run out of gas. These acts from people in so much devastation and destruction are at the core of how we should live as Christians.” Sometimes disasters bring out the best in people. This is like an Acts 5:32 moment where they “were of one heart and of one soul: No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.” While the conspiracy theorists and politicians can argue what’s important to them, the survivors of Helene are giving their best to one another. From the ugliness of Helene comes the beauty of human kindness.
