Column for April 21, 2011

I am sure that the headlines and lead stories of this and other weekly newspapers will be full of information about the recent tornadoes that ripped through North Carolina last Saturday. I always thought it odd that my high school mascot was a Golden Tornado. Since that area has probably never seen a tornado, I doubt that they have any first hand knowledge of the weather phenomenon. They get blizzards and the occasional small earthquake, but no tornadoes. As a matter of fact, my mother was with us during the recent tornado event and got to ride out her first one ever. Having lived in North Carolina for the majority of my life now, I have seen first hand the force of tornadoes, especially ones that result from hurricane activity. Then again, North Carolina’s NHL team is called The Hurricanes. Go figure.

I struggle sometimes with tragedy, just as most people do. Sure, I have plenty of head knowledge of Biblical explanations and about the attributes of God. However, I don’t thoroughly comprehend the reason why some people are injured or killed and others live. I don’t always understand why some people had their homes destroyed and others were unscathed. I will nonetheless consider myself and my family to be fortunate that we were spared all but a few limbs having fallen from my old pecan tree in my back yard. I am grateful for our safety and my heart cries out for others who were not so fortunate at the same time.

When we saw the devastation in the gulf states as a result of Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Indonesia several years ago, the earthquake in Haiti, and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I am sure that we all had heavy hearts. Local businesses and charities are working hard to serve people affected by our own local storm. In North Carolina, we are accustomed to emergency response to natural disasters, since we are one of the most hurricane prone areas in the world. I have no doubt about the capabilities of our emergency service workers around here. Their courage and devotion to duty has always been outstanding.

I have pondered how I can be of greater assistance, as well. I figure if I can at least share some ways in which the general public can help, that is a minute thing I can do. I plan on doing more, but I can at least devote a column to the information. There are two organizing efforts I know of personally and know the people involved personally, so I would like to share them.

A local restaurant, Foodies At Heart, in downtown Selma will serve as a drop off point for items to be donated to storm victims. They are right across the street from Creech’s Drug store at 127 North Raiford Street. I have not gotten any more details at the time of this writing, so I encourage you to stop by, email, or call them. Their phone number is 919-414-8856 and their email address is foodiesatheart@yahoo.com.

A warehouse full of clothing and household items is opening to provide free goods for Johnston County residents who had storm losses. Basic Needs Ministry’s clothing closet and thrift sales area welcome residents with referrals from Johnston County churches, schools, social service agencies, and nonprofits who provide basic services for those in need. The public charity’s warehouse is at 5533 NC Hightway 42 in Suite D96 (the backside of Peddler’s Village). I personally know and recommend the man who runs that organization. Call 919-661-6565 to get answers to any questions about Basic Needs Ministries.

I wish that I had all the answers to the question, “Why?”, but I don’t. I do know that our response to such events are just as, if not more important. That goes for not only our heart’s reaction, but also to our humanitarian activities. I strongly encourage all readers to consider how you can help the victims of the tornadoes that hit our region. The storms affected our own friends, family, and acquaintances in different ways.

I firmly believe that this is our responsibility first and not necessarily that of especially the federal government. James Madison, one of the primary writers of the document said, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” That is our job as friends, family, Christians, and citizens.

Column for Jan. 21, 2010

Have you been following the news about last week's earthquake in Haiti? Each day, it is on the newscasts on local and national news. My heart truly goes out to the victims of the quake. There are many North Carolina residents who are either immigrants from Haiti or have ties to Haiti via church missionary work or non-profit agencies. The video clips of collapsed buildings, injured people, and lines of refugees are heart tugging.

The latest figures I have seen are that there may be over a hundred thousand dead. That would be approximately 71% of every resident of Johnston County gone in a matter of moments. That figure is hard for us to imagine here. We have not had that sort of devastation in America. Sure, we have seen reports of tidal waves and other natural disasters overseas, but not here in North America. It is hard to relate to that magnitude of loss of life. Just to give one example, for eight or so years we have heard the death toll of American soldiers in Iraq. By contrast, in World War II, we lost more American soldiers in one week than we have lost in the entire war effort in Iraq. I am not saying this in support of any war, but just by way of comparison. In present day America, we are out of touch with large scale loss of life, property, and modern conveniences. Heck, we get annoyed and upset when we lose electricity for three days following a hurricane.

One thing that I know for sure is that aid to Haiti or any other nation in times of disaster should not be a matter of politics. It is not a Democrat or Republican matter. America is the most generous nation in the world. As a nation, we often have huge fundraisers for aid in times of disaster. We annually have telethons for non-profit organizations that work for disease research and medical cures. We support religious organizations, relief workers, sponsor missionaries, and have "foster children" overseas for whom we send monthly donations. After Hurricane Katrina, we sent millions of dollars in food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and even cleaning supplies to victims. I see that there are upcoming telethons to raise money for relief efforts. I have seen footage of US soldiers continuously hauling food and water into Haiti. Supplies are constantly being flown by military aircraft and hauled by US ships. We as Americans are paying for all of those relief supplies, fuel, and manpower with our tax dollars. In times of national disaster, I have no problem with assisting with the rescue of and preservation of human life.

In the aftermath, I have heard pundits pontificating on things such as the reason for the disaster, the amount of relief that should be sent to the nation, and for merciful giving. I have heard a former President of the United States optimistically claim that the United States will rebuild the nation of Haiti. I have heard talk show hosts railing against the concept of nation building. This too, should not be a matter upon which to capitalize politically. To preserve life, safeguard against the further loss of life, and helping to feed and clothe victims of natural disaster is one thing. To pay to rebuild an entire nation is another. The United States has always responded favorably to crisis situations like in Haiti from the private sector and by all accounts and projections, we will again.

I am not going to say that I subscribe to Pat Robertson's assertion that the earthquake is a direct result of that nation's leadership making a pact with Satan. I will say, however, that Haiti has not positioned itself financially and culturally in a manner that would allow it to prosper and rebound effectively. Perhaps such a large scale disaster will necessitate some changes in its national conscience. Perhaps they will see the aid that has come from more prosperous, generous nations and seek to emulate that culture. Perhaps the people of Haiti will also be receptive to the followers of a compassionate God sharing the love of Christ for them. Many missionaries have already labored and now died in Haiti for the love of Christ. We as a people now have the opportunity to share that same love for them in their time of need.

Part of me wants to get on a plane and go to Haiti to assist in relief efforts. The reality is that it is not practical for me to do so. I can, however, do my part in supporting the efforts of those who can go and in the purchase of relief supplies. As much as I have disdain for the way Haiti has run its government, treated its people, and turned to false and evil religions during its history, the love of Christ for my fellow man is greater than my political and civil biases. May it be that way for us all, and may out of our own personal hearts and abundance show ourselves generous.

Column for July 30, 2009

I want to tell you the story of a friend of mine named Paul. Paul was a teenager whose life was on a downward spiral. He was just 18 years of age and was about to flunk out of high school. With just a few weeks left in the school year at Garner High School, this boy of Puerto Rican extraction was on the street after having a major fall out with his family. He had no place to turn. The pastor of the church I attend is the chaplain for the Garner Police Department. Garner PD has officers at the school and there was a relationship being built through the high school administration, as well.

Garner High School is full of crime, drugs, and gang activity. The school population is more than some Johnston County towns. There are a lot of at risk students there, and Paul was one of them, well known as such to the school's resource police presence.

The pastor and one member of the congregation met with Paul that night and hooked him up with a hotel room for the night as well as intervention with his family for living arrangements. There are a lot of details to which I am not privy, and other details that I do know and would take up more space to relay than I have.

The pastor of the church dealt with the school to help ensure that Paul would not be just another statistic. Paul did not want to be a stereotype and wanted to make something of his life. Unfortunately, Paul had no motivation to succeed. He was an intelligent guy, but he was mentally and physically lazy. There is no good way of saying it, and I know that he would agree.

Different men of the church took Paul "under their wings" and hounded him to get to school and graduate. Despite their assistance, Paul had already missed well above the allowed absence limit by something like 20 days. At the behest of the pastor, the school administration agreed not to force Paul to repeat his senior year of school and waive the issue if Paul would pass his final exams.

Even with that waiver, Paul failed one final exam and was going to fail for the year. With pleading, prayer, negotiations, Paul was allowed to repeat the one literature class he failed during the summer session. The favor of God was with my friend Paul. He eventually passed that class after much cajoling and pressure by the pastor and others to actually show up to class and study. His discipline was just not there on his own to succeed.

Paul then became a lot more involved with the church fellowship. Different men who owned businesses allowed Paul to work with them and even transported him to work a job he managed to get. Paul even helped do some work on my home here in Selma. He came to church on a regular basis and even to men's prayer meetings. He was getting Godly male advice and love for the first time in his life, apparently.

When deciding what to do with his life, Paul said that he wanted to become a Marine. There was one problem. Paul was not exactly tiny at 260 pounds. Paul started to get motivated towards a goal for possibly the first time in his life. He started exercising, dieting, and working to lose the necessary weight to enlist. His recruiter worked out a weight waiver for him if he got down to 205 pounds. Eventually, Paul was able to ship off for Marine Corps boot camp.

This past Friday, I had the distinct honor of traveling with a group of men, including the church's pastor, to Parris Island to see Paul graduate along with almost 600 other Marines. He had changed his attitude, prepared himself for the rigors of Marine Corps training, and mostly had to deal with the physical challenges of being porky by Marine standards.

I was amazed at how Paul had gotten down to a svelte 185 pounds, was a lean fighting machine, and had a lot more confidence in his communications. Now this obstinate, lazy Puerto Rican boy who squeaked through high school by the skin of his teeth has become a man of honor and discipline, and is on his way to a military career in computer networking.

It never ceases to amaze me how prayer, persistence, God's grace, and the love of God shown through His servants can help transform a life. I am proud of Paul, as well as the men with whom I am associated in their pursuit of one of God's lost sheep. Oh, that I had many more such stories to tell.