The Day Devastation Changed Her Face

Early on in life we learn the meaning of the word devastation. We are taught it has the power to bring fear, disbelief, and mass destruction, along with the power to change lives forever. Her images flood our televisions, computers, and smart phones. Leaving us shocked by the destructiveness she possess when she sweeps by. For many of us, we are moved to action after seeing her which is why we witness strangers helping strangers and people donating money so relief supplies can be sent. 

This is my story of how I knew I needed to do more than just send money when Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, although I know the monetary donations my family made were critical I couldn't deny the pulling on my heart that said "Do more, Maria. You have the ability so do it". I offered my services to my church who has sent volunteers and supplies to numerous cities on the Texas coast since Harvey hit and the experience I encountered opened my eyes in ways I never expected. 

Our team of more than 100 volunteers rose under the cover of darkness in order to meet at 4:15 a.m. We loaded buses and headed south to Rockport to join Operation Blessing and Church Unlimited in their clean-up efforts. As I stared out the window, this trip felt no different then the hundreds I had taken before. That is until we crossed the invisible line. Once on the other side life changes and you hold tight as you realize you've just entered a reality you've never experienced before.  A hush filled the bus as our eyes stared at what laid outside our windows. With one glance, a sadness filled me and my eyes welled up with tears. I begin to wonder "How does someone live through this? How do they pick-up their lives and begin again?" But as the day went on the answer revealed itself. 


Multitudes
The streets were filled with volunteers who traveled from near and far. Some skilled workers but the majority of us having but one thing to offer - hard working spirits. There were volunteers to conduct clean-up and there were volunteers to help the volunteers, including making sure we were fed. So many details had to be addressed to pull this one day off. But that wasn't even the impressive part of it all. No, the fact this has gone on for weeks was the most powerful of realizations. Multitudes arriving and multitudes working together to slowly push devastation off her throne. 

Who was this multitude? On the day I volunteered, I didn't know them when we started. But by days end they had become givers of hope I would work alongside any day of the week. Did they come from perfect lives where they had nothing better to do then offer their time? No, quite the contrary. As we shared our stories throughout the day I realized we came from all walks of life. One had lost a spouse several years ago and volunteering was one of the things they loved doing together. "Now I volunteer alone", she told me. While another woman with dark piercing eyes stated, "My father died recently and I'm the only one left to care for my elderly mother. This is the first time I've left her alone since my father's passing". "I'm a missionary who has spent most of my life in South Africa and India", stated a third woman who was only 29 years old. "I'm unemployed and I want my gifts and talents to be a blessing somewhere", I told each of them. So no our lives weren't perfect, but we felt drawn to lay down our pain for a day so we could lighten the load and pain others felt.  

As we arrived at the first of three sites we would visit that day, the shock deepened as we stepped onto the property and begin to pick-up the pieces of what was once someones home - their paradise on earth utterly destroyed. Shattered glass and debris filled the yard. Furniture strewn about, a boat motor left on the side of a dock but the boat itself nowhere to be found. Family pictures faded from being in the rain, which we gently picked up and placed in a box along with other valuables so the owners would find them when they returned home. Downed power-lines made it difficult to clean-up fallen trees because devastation had intertwined them with one another, causing safety concerns for our team. 

As we traveled past neighborhood after neighborhood, the story repeated itself. I couldn't help but notice almost every tree was barren of leaves. As we passed undeveloped land naturally filled with countless trees, the scene resembled a haunted forest from a children's novel. Tall, dark, leafless trees that seemed to say "Enter if you dare". I wanted to ask, "Devastation how cruel are you that you strip beauty from God's green earth?". 

The One That Follows Devastation

So there it was...the day devastation changed her face. Nevermore would I say to her "I see you through the screen". Instead as of September 9, 2017 I would always say to her "I see you right before me, I have touched what you destroyed and seen what you do to man. However, I see and know the one who comes after you. He is strong and mighty, He is kind, He is a fighter and a giver of hope - - - He is Love. He flooded in before you even fully left. He tugged on hearts so a multitude of armies would rise to rebuild what you destroyed.

And although the road before us is long, Love will light the way.  Proving once again, no matter how much devastation fills this world Love is there and He shines bright. Reminding us that together we are stronger, wiser and will always rise again to stand another day. 

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