Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8
In Psalm 124, David exclaims, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our
side…then the flood would have swept us away; the torrent would have
gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.”
Like many who do disaster response work, I got involved in this work
following Hurricane Katrina, when I went with my home church, Trinity
Lutheran, Lansdale, Pa, as a volunteer to Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Within a year I found myself employed in the Lutheran Disaster Response
program at Liberty Lutheran Services, tasked with organizing Lutheran
congregations and other partners in response to disasters here in
Pennsylvania. It has been over 15 years now responding to named storms
like Irene, Lee, Sandy, Maria, Isaias, Ida, Fiona, and unnamed storms like
the Valentine’s Day ice storm of 2014, the August 2018 floods, and the July
12, 2021 storm.
It makes me sad that many people have literally been swept away by
flood waters. I do not believe it is because God is not on their side as we
might conclude from a quick reading of David’s words. Yet, I can’t say that
I have any understanding as to why some are swept away and some are
not. But I can say that many survivors I’ve met over the years inspire me
with their faith. Lemuel Bannister from the Eastwick neighborhood, whose
whole first floor was obliterated in Isaias in 2020, reminded me that Jesus
is our Way Maker. His faith is strong. He reminded me that there is much
that we can do to further God’s Kingdom now, in Jesus’s name, to save
people from the torrents and raging waters. We can learn about historic
land use injustices, seek legislation to protect the most vulnerable, and
work to stop climate change.
Great Way Maker, remind us all that whatever torrents we face, that you are
always our help. Amen.
Julia Menzo is Director of Lutheran Congregational Services and Lutheran
Disaster Response – Eastern PA.
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