Changed

I don't know that there are many people that read this blog that don't live in my city so this may seem a bit repetitive for them.

Our city was hit by a major tornado last week. In that time, I have seen and felt many things that I never thought I would.

The landscape of the familiar has been forever changed. Businesses are gone, homes flattened—even those of us familiar with the area have to get our bearings a bit because many of the landmarks are gone.

I have been through most of the areas hit hardest by the storm. One of the areas was one that Gracen and I drove through every day going to school. We would wave to a group of girls gathered at a stop sign to wait for the school bus most every morning.

The smell of pine permeated the air the first morning we drove through there. Ordinarily, I love the smell of fresh cut wood but this wasn't cut. It was ripped up, twisted, and pulled apart. That smell simply shouldn't be in that area. The stop sign where the little girls stood was bent to the ground. Almost every house was gone—the ones that are left are uninhabitable.

Tears came. I didn't know those girls. I just knew they must have lived in that area. My heart ached for the loss that they surely must be enduring.

Several days later, the K9 units were in that neighborhood with the dogs. I cried again, knowing that at this time, they weren't searching for survivors.

Yet for every time of sadness, there have been tears of gratefulness. Seeing the relief supplies stack up at our church from people who came from many states away and from those who were directly affected by the storm and watching volunteers give selflessly of their time and energy has been simply amazing. And, on personal note, seeing my girl and her friends work organizing supplies has helped me understand that everyone wants to help—and that everyone can help.

There are many in town who were not directly affected by the storm. In all honesty, many of us are directly affected by the inconvenience the storm caused. Some of us don't even know someone directly affected by this storm.

The true measure of this storm isn't in the stories that are told but perhaps in the amount of time those of us not directly affected stick it out to be of help and how many new relationships we form because of this.

Hopefully, in that regard, we will shine.