Strength in Numbers

For the third time in only a handful of days, Oklahoma has been battered with tornatic storms and now terrible flooding.  The latest batch last night surged its way from Oklahoma through Missouri, hitting the St. Louis area before continuing into Illinois.  I have both friends and family in these areas and have been praying for them and everyone else who has been affected by these damaging storms. 

Watching the media coverage from afar has been surreal.  These communities will come together to cope and rebuild, while the nation stands on the sidelines offering its time, money, prayer, and hope.  Unfortunately, most of us on the sidelines will move on as soon as the media coverage deceases and something else fills the headlines, leaving the affected communities to cope on their own. 

Why is this?  As a country, why does it take a catastrophe to garner compassion and an urgency to help one another?  In a week or two when the headlines cease prime time focus, we will lose interest, become self-centered once again, and move on.  Why does it take a disaster for us to truly care about people who reside outside our daily circles? 

I desperately want to say that I’m a person who willingly steps beyond me to help when the need is fresh and in the limelight.  However, when the pictures fade from the television screen and it takes mental and physical effort on my part to keep that need alive, I fail.  My life takes precedence and my focus reverts back to “me.” 

There is such strength in numbers.  If we could work together to remember those affected by tragedy, to keep us accountable to the hurting world around us, we could become a much stronger nation.  No one person or group can do everything, but as a nation, our numbers grow as does the power of our ability to achieve miraculous things.  We were never meant to walk the earth alone but as a national community of people, willing to step up daily to help one another.  I’m ready to be part of this movement.  How about you, are you with me?