David Young in the parking lot of the greenway where he rode out the tornado hugging a tree.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;the voice of the Lord is majestic.The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.* * *The voice of the Lord twists the oaksand strips the forests bare.And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
This passage in today's reading reminds of events just 20 days ago in our town that we are still digging out from physically, emotionally and spiritually.
On Good Friday, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, experienced an EF-4 tornado packing winds of between 166 and 200 miles per hour and traveling 23.5 miles on the ground. It came near our home, but except for a few shingles, part of a tree and one of our gutters, we were untouched. For so many others it was a far more devastating event. A Mufreesboro Post article reported that as of April 13th, 794 homes were damaged with 98 destroyed, 227 severely damaged. In terms of lives, the tornado inflicted 42 minor injuries, 7 critical injuries and was responsible for two fatalities.
One of those injured was a minister at our church, David Young. David was caught in the middle of the tornado while running on the greenway right behind where a three-story office building on Thompson Lane was reduced to a 1 1/2-story office building. Hugging the base of a tree, he had the unique experience of watching a tornado surround him and has an incredible story to tell.
I was blessed to lend a hand on small part of the cleanup and was taken by the unbelievable number of large trees that were uprooted, dragged and splintered in the storm. In telling his story, David Young talks about how the trees exploded around him and what an indescribable sound that is, the sound of a forest exploding.
Psalms 29 seems to suggest what David heard was the voice of God.
I've struggled a bit with God's role and purpose in the tornado. I've seen with my own eyes houses completely flattened by the storm while across the street a home not even missing a shingle. How is it that some like David, running out in the open, but with shards of wood flying all around him when the storm hit, lived to tell their story while one young family of three huddling together in the hallway of their home tragically lost two members?
While in one respect it's remarkable that there weren't more fatalities given the tornado's size, force, duration and resulting devastation, it only makes it more horrific that the only fatalities are from the same family. John Bryant, just 29 years old, lost his 30-year-old wife, Kori, and their 9-week-old infant daughter, Olivia, in the Good Friday tornado. He was seriously injured. Contrary to early reports that had the mother and child in the car outside the house when the storm hit. The family was actually huddling together in their home.
I can't imagine it. I can't imagine what would be in my mind and heart and soul if I were John Bryant or Kori's parents or relatives. And I pray every day for them.
When you pass by the Bryant home or the foundation on which the home used to sit, you're immediately taken by the fact there are homes standing around it. They're damaged, yes. But they're standing. The Bryant home is completely gone. Forgive me for saying it, but it's what I feel: It's as if the fingers of God plucked this one home up. Why?
I don't think I will ever know in this life why. I can only bow and then rise up and help those touched by the storm. Try to show them that the hand of God is also caring and loving. That we reach out to them in their loss because He reached out to us and was willing to save us even though it meant His only Son would have to experience death. I don't know what comfort that is. I know only the Lord can provide the comfort and healing needed.
I have seen our community torn apart by the path of a tornado ripping through its heart but I have also seen our community come together in powerful ways to help neighbors and strangers in God's name.
I do not understand tragedy. But I celebrate the recovery.
Every day my drive to work takes on Haynes to Thompson Lane, passed both the Bryant home and the greenway where David Young rose from the rubble. Every day I drive by twice, once on the way to work and once on the way home, and each time I pass I can't help but think and wonder and pray.
I can't know the why in all of this but I do know the One who does.
A memorial fund has been set up for the Bryant family at Bank of America. You can make donations by visiting any of the bank's locations or by going to this website. At this writing, the website reports $18, 135 has been raised.
No comments:
Post a Comment