How Can We Help?

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Hurricane Harvey recently did its damage. People in Texas are still trying to recover. I rarely watch the Weather Channel, but today I saw Hurricane Irma working her way up from the tropics to Florida and beyond.

Mankind can prevent diseases, work to prevent earthquake damage on bridges and buildings and find better ways to fight fires. 

Wonderful accomplishments!

What we cannot do is prevent tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes. 

All we can do is prepare for them, and that's not easy. 

Be Prepared
I've heard a lot about preparedness. In California and Washington, it had to do with earthquakes. Here in northern Arizona, it's all about forest fires. In South Dakota, I remember being in the car as Dad was trying to outrun a tornado. I was too young to understand the implications of that.

What I do understand, as an adult, is that not all levels of society have the means to prepare for disaster. I read an article just last week about the high percentage of Americans that are now living from paycheck to paycheck.

Think About It

Nature's hard hitters leave a lot of problems to solve . . . and they all take time to overcome!

Let's get personal. If your job is gone because of a natural disaster, will you ever get it back? If so, how long will it be?

If your home is wiped out by fire, earthquake or flood will you be able to rebuild? If so, how long will that take?

How long will your community be able to supply food, water, sleeping quarters and sanitation for hundreds or thousands who have lost everything? Some survivors even prepared for disaster, but it happened so suddenly they could not save their provisions.

A Helpful Solution
Humans helping humans is God's principle since the day Eve was created to be a helpmate for Adam (Genesis 2:20-23). In the Old Testament, people were instructed to meet the needs of their poor relatives as well as others in need. This directive included a blessing for the generous (Deuteronomy 15:10-11).

Think about it. How can you help? You don't have anything to give? Think again. I once heard a former street person say that, in her experience, the homeless shared from what little they had.

Another example of giving from meager fare was shared by the Apostle Paul. He knew the Macedonian believers had gone through a severe trial, yet they insisted on giving to others in need before being asked (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).

Why Wait?
Giving before being asked is a good idea. It allows immediate disaster relief through the Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, Operation Blessing, Convoy of Hope and others. You've probably seen them at work on TV, just like me.

There has not been enough time to meet the needs of Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Irma will only multiply the problem.

How can we help? I only know what I can do. What you do is up to you, but . . . do something!