May 20th. 3:00 in the afternoon. As many of you watched on the news, a large tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma about 15 minutes from my University's campus in Norman. I was able to spend several days in the area after the tornado and see for myself what went on in the city. I packed my car with supplies & gifts and arrived in OK three days after the tornado had touched down. My church in Norman partnered with a larger church to offer supplies & relief to the affected families, and that is where I started spending my time. I got the opportunity to ride in the church van packed with sandwiches, cookies, & gatorade to go to "ground zero" and refresh the people working there. I had no idea what was in store.
We were gone for almost six hours handing out food & drinks to these people and I was amazed by every second of it. I was amazed by the devastation. Houses and neighborhoods just...gone. I was amazed by the professionals out there working. Policemen, electricians, and construction workers spending all day doing their job very well to get the city up and running again. Most of all, I was amazed by the people. Seriously, y'all... I'm from Texas and we tend to give Oklahomans a hard time, but after spending this last week in Moore I am now very proud to call myself one of them. These are the kindest, most selfless, Jesus-lovin' people I have ever been around. I could go on and on about how honored I was to work alongside other students, OU professors, and my church family. Every person I handed a cold drink to thanked me from the bottom of their heart. Some wanted to tell me their story. Some wanted help cleaning up the rubble where their home used to stand. Some just wanted a hug.
Driving through the destroyed areas of Moore had me in tears. These were places I recognized and used to spend time at. I saw city blocks that were completely leveled and still can't imagine the pain that the families are feeling. Where was God when this tornado hit?
Where was God when two elementary schools were hit & children died? As the children's pastor at my church put it... Have you not seen Him? Honestly, this is my best answer to the question that believers & non-believers alike ask when bad things happen. When absolute tragedy strikes, God is right there. When we are hurting, God is there. All of this used to sound cliché to me, but not anymore now that I have experienced it for myself. God is in the thousands of donations piled up. God is in the countless volunteers from all over the nation. God is in the children who miraculously walked out of those schools alive. I have never felt the presence of God so powerfully or seen the Church so wonderfully execute being the "hands & feet" of Jesus.
Maybe all of this was a "had to be there" thing, but I hope that some of what I learned can still encourage you. The next time I experience tragedy, my eyes will be wide open looking for how God chooses to show up. There is no hopelessness or despair in Moore. I saw no one cursing God. I heard no one question His goodness. He is being thanked and praised and glorified in Moore, Oklahoma. There is no way that someone could go there & see the people's faces and still ask, "Where is God?"
Maybe all of this was a "had to be there" thing, but I hope that some of what I learned can still encourage you. The next time I experience tragedy, my eyes will be wide open looking for how God chooses to show up. There is no hopelessness or despair in Moore. I saw no one cursing God. I heard no one question His goodness. He is being thanked and praised and glorified in Moore, Oklahoma. There is no way that someone could go there & see the people's faces and still ask, "Where is God?"
Do you not see Him? He is everywhere.
Psalm 34:18
