On Easter night, seven tornadoes tore through East Chattanooga and neighboring areas. Still struggling through the threat of COVID-19, this was hard to take. Crises seem to bring out the both the best in people and the worst.
That Monday morning, our family grabbed gloves and a chainsaw and jumped in the truck to find ways to help. We were able to clear several trees blocking roads and help several families with trees blocking driveways and front doors. At one location, a large tree had almost completely blocked the road. As our family worked to clear it, a strong, young man showed up and immediately began grabbing cut limbs and logs to help us. He had been on his roof to assess damage and had heard our chainsaw. He immediately came down the road to see who needed help. What a great guy!
Meanwhile, we noticed others driving and pushing carelessly by, heedless of our clearing efforts. Later, we heard local stories of some looting and unscrupulous roofing contractors. We also noticed some vendors inflating prices of recovery products, taking advantage of people in crisis.
The best and the worst. Maybe extreme circumstances bring out extreme reactions, both good and bad. Carbon turns to either coal or diamonds under pressure. Companies that truly value their team members repurpose and keep them in a crisis rather than dumping them. The best contractors find ways to serve and conduct business with sensitivity. The worst gouge and grab, using the crisis to take advantage of customers who are at a disadvantage.
As crisis piled on top of crisis in our region, what have they brought out in you? The best or the worst? Do hard times make us turn inward, isolating and complaining? Or do they help us to recognize our blessings and then reach out to others hurting around us? No matter what your faith walk is, during prayer or a meditative moment, dig deep and resolve to find a way to help someone this week who has a greater struggle than your own. Let these crises make us thank more, volunteer more, empathize more, grow more. Yes, we’ll continue to see the best and the worst come out in those around us.
I challenge all of us to look for the best in us, and when we find it, to offer it liberally and joyfully to those around us!
#wonderwomenof7North#COVID-19