Catastrophic Feelings - 400,000 houses destroyed in a three state area, 85,000 families displaced in New Orleans, 30,000 houses either gone or in need of repair in Biloxi.

It's staggering. It's the U.S. "Chernobyl" we'd rather not talk about. But people are still living in trailers or with relatives. Houses are still boarded up as if Hurricane Katrina happened yesterday. It's been two years! Well, life happens, doesn't it?

I've had several weeks to think about our church's recent trip to help with Lutheran Disaster Relief in Biloxi, Miss. I've been numb for a while, as with any catastrophic event. The magnitude takes forever to sink in. It's unbelievable, except for the fact that we've seen a part of it. It needs to be believable and talked about. People are not even connecting the dots of reasons for recession when a good portion of the Gulf Coast has be wiped out -- people unemployed, and insurance, including health insurance unavailable or unaffordable.

One person whose home we helped to restore not only had his house badly damaged, but predator repairmen did shoddy work, so repairs had to be repeated on the home. The man with a gentle spirit not only lost his living space, but his wife died this past August in her early 60's. One can die not just of physical ailments, but of a broken heart. I am proud of our church's response to the need. But it feels like a candle being lit in a windstorm -- a flickering witness none-the-less. Like the story we heard from Mike, the owner of a home on Biloxi Point. As the 28 foot tidal surge engulfed his home, it became an island refuge for others whose homes were floating away. Mike's home had two stories and he welcomed 26 neighbors who floated by to stay at his home. One Vietnamese fishing family would not accept his invitation to come. He found out that an elderly grandparent was bedfast and the rest of the family would not leave her. Mike waded and swam and put her on his back and the family was brought to safety. "Greater love has no one than this . . . "

Stories like this mark the soul. Our church will go back to the Gulf Coast. We are planning to invite a pastor from Mobile to speak at several area churches this Spring. Our hope is to spread the word and find more volunteers for Spring and Summer trips. I will not be the same as a result of those 4 days.

Rev. Thomas L Schindler
St. Thomas-Holy Spirit
St. Louis, MO
January 24, 2008