"Experience is a hard teacher, because you get the test first and the
lesson later." (anonymous)
This quote took on new meaning this Sunday in church as a Pastor from
New Orleans shared with us the things he had learned already from his
experience with Katrina. When he was introduced to us, we were told how
he had made sure that his church members had all evacuated safely before
he left. He evacuated just hours ahead of the storm and carried with
him his children, wife, mother-in-law and sister-in-law. At first they
were headed west, when they were directed north and finally ended up in
Alabama. After several days passed, they realized that they would not
be going home soon, so they called their children's godmother and came
to stay with her near Orange Park, FL.
When he was talking about the devastation, he just kept repeating, "you
just can't imagine it". When asked to share what he had learned from
the experience, he seemed to come to life. He began by saying that as a
preacher, he had always preached "hope" and he knew he had to be the
example now for others. He has lost all his possessions. He quoted the
phrase I opened this email with, and said that he had been through many
easier tests in his life, and had learned that God would always be there
for him. Now he was seeing again, that every day God has been
there...in little ways and big ways. He reminded himself that no matter
how bad it was for him, someone else had it worse, so he could be
thankful for his situation and look for ways to be a help to the others
who were suffering more. He reminded us again, that things are only
things...and no matter how we think otherwise, things do not matter,
people do!
Debbie in Florida
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