I am in Arizona this morning with my brother and cousin. We are finishing up taking care of all the things that have to be done when a loved one passes. My 90 year old aunt passed away after a long difficult year. Physically she suffered like any 90 year old person. This past year she suffered from loss. The loss of her husband, the loss of her luxurious living in a senior center, the loss of control of making decisions. She was so angry with my brother and I a year ago when we decided it was best for her not to be in independent living. She eventually accepted it and started telling us that she made the decision and that she loves us. I've been coming almost yearly to see her since I was 13 years old. It was strange to land in this familiar city knowing she was gone.
My day yesterday started in Carrier Mills. This church was torn apart by a tornado last Wednesday morning at 5:30am. We met in a large living room in the parsonage. They started the service with a song of thanksgiving and praise. I thought to myself 'only the church'! The whole service was moving and I was humbled to speak to them yesterday. They were sad and have no idea what they are going to do but I'm confident their faith has not been shaken. They were safe. A few tears during the service but mostly smiles and confidence. Only the Church!
Since Carrier Mills begins at 9:00am I was able to get to Harrisburg to be in their service. The community looks like a war zone. I passed a restaurant called Wok and Roll - No roof and missing a wall or two but a sign in the window said, "open". Of course they weren't - but they will be again. That's the spirit of southern Illinois - Nothing will keep us down. I was impressed by the help and professional organizations like Samaritan's Purse that was set up and doing strategic ministry. Then I arrived at the church. The tornado passed over our church in Harrisburg. The building is filled with thousands of bags of potato chips, a warehouse full of water and they were expecting hams to arrive that afternoon and wondered where they would put all the ham. It was impressive.
It was once again the people that I cannot say enough about. Both pastors of the these churches (John Neace and Dan Masters) are under tremendous stress but are on top of it and doing great. They are moved by the support of the Church of God in IL and others that have called. Pastor Dan allowed everyone that wanted to share their story to speak in the service. This was a masterful thought - allowing people to tell their story was so healing.
I was humbled to be with this 'family' yesterday as they shared. Several had lost their homes. One elderly couple shared their story with their teenage/young adult grand kids sitting closer to them than ever before I imagine. Another 80 year old couple had lost their home, car, clothes, heirloom... yet they praised God. Really? Losing it all and four days later they are in church praising God. One of the grandchildren told a story of walking the golf course behind his grandparents "previous" home. He looked down on the green he was standing on and picked up a necklace from his grandpa's heirlooms. He was so overcome with joy. He put the necklace (it was masculine) around his neck and hasn't taken it off.
I thought of the joy that came over him when he found this heirloom that he thought was gone forever. It made me think of the joy that God finds when one lost person comes home. This young man in his 20's wept as he professed his faith in Christ.
I went to these two churches to encourage them - to brings words of hope - to share with them that we care... I was the one encouraged, cared for, ministered to, and hopeful. Only the Church! The day started early for me. 4:30am to be exact because I woke up sick - it ended with dinner in Pheonix with my brother and cousin - laughing around the table as we shared in our loss.
It was a spirit filled day full of emotion. I'm so thankful to have lived yesterday. To see the church, to be in a family, to have friends --- all deeply in love with Jesus... it doesn't get any better than that.
