Our television screens have been filled with images of heroes this week.  What a change. Only a short time ago, demonstrators filled the streets –  violence was the fare of the day – hatred and bigotry scarred young minds and old.  Now we see fearless men and women, taking risks to save lost pets, the elderly and disabled and those who have simply lost everything.

Why does it take a natural disaster or tragedy for this to happen? 

We see it time and again, when the nation rallies for the good of their fellow man during times of acts of God or terrorism.  It seems that when we are at our lowest, God throws another brick our way, not to crush us, but to build us up again.  When I see what’s happening down south, it gives me hope that all is not lost with my country.

All the foolishness over statues – the political climate – the rhetoric flying around – means nothing when the God of Creation can erase every trace with one hurricane.  All the differences of opinion seem to melt in the storms of loss.  We turn to helping each other.  It’s part of who we are.

We’ve seen our president take immediate action.  We’ve watched as neighbor helps neighbor – as nursing home residents are rescued from imminent death – as Americans come together to show what we are truly made of.

On August 29, 2005, a gal named Katrina ravaged the gulf coast and brought out the ugly side of humanity.  Looting and savage behavior ripped through New Orleans.  Now this area is being threatened again.  What do we learn from these disasters?  Are we a nation of sick, selfish, uncaring individuals who are concerned only with our own needs, or are we willing to pitch in and give something of ourselves to help others?

God doesn’t create natural disasters to punish us.  He doesn’t work that way.  If we were to get what we deserve, we’d have all been eliminated long ago.  God tests our strength, our heroism, our love for others through these events and gives us the ability to grow through them.

I’m still proud to be an American and especially now that my fellow Americans doing what they do best – putting others first and working together.