MEMORIES OF KATRINA

It has been ten years since the Gulf Coast took the full attack of Hurricane Katrina.  Much of the focus was on the City of New Orleans, Louisiana.  That is a city I had visited on numerous occasions, having been involved three youth gatherings and a couple of conferences there.  I grieved as I saw the city destroyed and so many lives impacted.

The reality of the tragedy impacted our lives here in Dallas.  I was serving as the school counselor at Lutheran High School of Dallas at that time.  Within a week of the tragedy we accepted our first Katrina refuge.  In time, we would take in four students.  Two of those students were with us for only a matter of weeks, as their families moved back to Louisiana.  Another finished the semester with us an then moved to be with family in another part of the country.  The fourth student finished the year with us.  That student and the struggles of his family still bother me ten years later. 

Within weeks, the decision was made to send a team of students and other volunteers to New Orleans.  Our principal and several faculty members accompanied them.  I was the varsity basketball coach and the trip would have conflicted with our practice schedule so I was not able to go. It did create a dilemma for me because two of my players wanted to go.  I had penciled in both players to have significant roles.  One even served as captain.  The mercy mission was scheduled for just days before our first game.  The athletic director left the decision up to me.  It was easy; the needs of others always take precedent. 

National tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina make headlines, and always arouse a response of mercy and compassion.  When the pastor of our church at the time put out an appeal for blankets for  the hundreds of refugees who were housed at Reunion Arena in Dallas, we had filled a trailer with new blankets by two that afternoon.   Donating goods and money is easy.  We can even donate on line or by using a phone app.  When lives are disrupted or even threatened, a response of mercy is the thing to do, but what about the day to day heartbreaking tragedies?  Thousands of children In our city go to bed hungry each night.  There are hundreds of homeless people in our city.  Almost every neighborhood has senior citizens who might be lonely or in need for friendship.  The manner in which we respond to all needs send a message to our children and teens.  Believe me, they see the needs and are waiting to see how we react..