Back to Reality?
Being in Waveland this year felt more like home than LA. There was so much love, familiar faces and TRUTH….something that seems to be missing here in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
After writing my first blog on ‘stuff’ I nearly went back on line to delete it the following day as I was concerned that maybe some of my assumptions were inappropriate. But as the week progressed these assumptions were confirmed over and over again. Loss of materialism had brought this community closer together. There was greater love and concern for one another and I heard several times; ‘We are better off than we were before Katrina hit.”
Sadly, the suicide rates are on the increase and yes there is evidence of post traumatic stress, but overall the people I connected with are healing. They feel blessed. They talk of God’s love and have a value to life that the materialistic will never truly comprehend.
Nature is back. The sea, which was so still last year pounds the sand with life, the pelicans now surf the water and man is active;- Katrina cottages grace the land, roads are being repaired, new sewer pipes laid…..there is rebuilding wherever you look. (I am referring to Waveland and not the 9th quarter in New Orleans which, as the pictures below show and Mark writes….is a very different story.)
To worship with the Armish community (our neighbors) who have given a seven year commitment to help rebuild Mississippi, gave me such joy. Here was a group of people who understand the true nature of God. Without the distractions of electricity, video games or the internet, they work the land, educate themselves in the ways of nature and understand that God is found through loving their neighbor as themselves; That it is through the pursuit of love and action (or Faith in Action as James puts it in the Bible ….thank you Vicar Dave) that the real spirituality of God can be attained.. Compare them with a group of people, whose lives revolve around marketing of themselves, looking good and the pursuit of money (the LA crowd…no offence…..myself included.) Add to this combination the local residents who joined us that night to share their stories of loss due to Katrina and you really began to see God’s hand at work. What brought these diverse people together? A tragedy!!! A need to help, love and support!!! What love was in that room. How often would you expect to see the Armish mixed with Hollywood fanatics and local people from Mississippi. But we were brought together, despite our differences, through one horrific event and the need to help and heal. The joy I had that night, in unity with everyone in that room, could not compare with anything that money has ever bought me.
It is easy to write in such a positive way as there was much to be glad about compared to last year. I revisited Ray Parnell and his family who are now in their new home and it gave me a sense of completion to see the results of last year’s labor. Their house was filled with the sound of laughter. They welcomed me like long lost family and were upset that they could not take me out to dinner to thank me. They laden me with gifts but their greatest gift was the love they gave me in that single moment. I had been part of putting together these people’s lives. Through them I felt whole.
The community is stronger and is growing. But my concern is that there is still much to be done, though not so apparent and not necessarily in the areas of house building.
Money is not as abundantly available as it was last year and there seemed to be less urgency. Life, while settling back to some semblance of normality for many, still is a rocky road for others. (Dorothy from last year....despite her house having been completed, has still not moved into her new home.) Like a wound that is bandaged the hidden damage is still there underneath and I fear there is much left untouched. It is just not so obvious. The simple presence of the church has kept these families motivated and believing. As the churches and charities leave, following the footsteps of the government agencies, I fear there are many who will be left on the wayside. And if that is the case the suicides will continue to rise. We, as a church need to stay vigilant to the needs of those in Waveland….and if we do get the opportunity to return next year it may not necessarily be primarily to rebuild homes….(the money may well be exhausted.)…The trip would be more about showing that the world still cares and we are there to help rebuild the communities, hearts and faith of a people who many have already forgotten.
I hope that once the basic needs of those in Waveland are met that the community will be able to rebuild itself, but let us not turn our backs on them, satisfied that we built a few houses and now everything will be ok. The damage is deep and our presence down there still offers a light. There are many who still do not have a home or a job and/or are mourning the loss of loved ones. They still need prayer and support to rebuild themselves.
Keep Waveland in your prayers and guide our spiritual leaders in making decisions re. our commitment in the years to come. As Mark says, if we sense there is a need, we should follow our call and continue to put our faith into action.
Without James we had to use this. . . we miss you James!
