Memories of Katrina

5 Years ago Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast causing the deaths of many people. I remember it well. We did some mission work here in Acworth collecting clothes and passing them out to refugees. But I wanted to be more involved. I wanted to help those that were hit the hardest. Those in New Orleans. My work offered a program where you could take a week off to work with any of the non-profit groups that were working in New Orleans. I was about to approach my boss about getting the time off when he called me into his office. He wanted me to go to New Orleans to get the trains back moving. I wanted to make a difference and use what I considered my gifts to reach people personally and instead I got to help thousands that I would never see by simply doing my job. What a strange feeling it was.

I have many memories from the days that I spent there. I remember the debris piled 20 feet high lining the streets of Slidell. I remember boats in trees and beside interstate. I remember returning to New Orleans just before Rita when the city had been evacuated again. We were the only cars on the road and I saw ducks in the middle of interstate along with a Rottweiler that was going the wrong way. I remember the warning given to me by the National Guard that we could go in but if we got stuck then we were on our own. I remember crossing back over the 11 bridge while a tornado was hitting the North Shore and being slightly terrified by not being able to see 20 feet in front of me.

I remember the 98 degree days with no relief except to get in my vehicle. I remember working 18 hours a day only to return to a camp that did not have a place for me to sit down and being thankful that I had a place to sleep. I remember being escorted into the city the first time by NS police and wondering if we were truly in danger. I remember getting stuck in the city one night past curfew and having to sleep at Oliver Yard.

However, among all these memories there is one that stands out above them. I remember the first house that I saw that did not have a zero in the fatalities part of the circle and x that marked the search efforts. In that house someone had died. I wondered if they had contemplated their death ahead of time and I wondered if they were surprised by it. I am guessing the latter. It is odd that we are all going to die- nobody gets out alive- and yet none of us really think about it.

So many of us ignore the warnings thinking that we will be the exceptions. We will live forever. We will not be affected by disease. We will never be in an accident that will claim our lives. It only happens to other people right? I am afraid to tell you that like it or not sooner or later death will claim you. Have you planned for this event?

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

(Rom 10:9-11)