Dear
SoupFriends,
Sometimes
life can throw us a curve-ball. And if you live in Texas or Oklahoma, lately
those curve-balls may seem more wicked than ever. In April the City of West had
a massive fertilizer plant explosion which resulted in loss of life and
property damage in the millions of dollars. A month later tornadoes roared thru
Granbury/Cleburne/Ennis Texas leaving a wake of destruction and loss of life.
And just when you thought things could not get any worse, a Stage 5 tornado
roared thru Moore, Oklahoma leaving unbelievable carnage and many more lives
lost.
Frankly,
there’s no way to sugarcoat what’s been happening. It’s been a rough go for a
lot of people. Home’s literally leveled down to the foundations, cars tossed
around like toys, schools destroyed and lives lost---many of them children. So
is there any ray of sunshine in the midst of this incredibly dark cloud. I
would humbly submit that there is!
Bob
Riley—former Governor of Alabama said, “Hard
times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within
us is revealed.” I would submit to you that these recent hard times have
brought out the hero in many people. How about those firemen in the City of
West who rushed in as First Responders without any thought to their own lives.
They were trying to save a town and lost their lives doing it. They were heroes
in my eyes! Are how about those school teachers in Oklahoma who literally
covered the children with their own bodies to shield them from the
tornado—heroes to be sure! What about the Fathers & Mothers who pushed their
own children to safety without any thought of their own safety---heroes, you
bet!
Beyond the
heroes was a whole mass of people stepping up to the plate to help. People
opened their hearts, their wallets and their homes to assist the ones hurt the
most. Donations poured in from all points North, East, South & West. In a
world where there seems to be too much hate, too much anger and too much war,
the goodness of people rose to the top. We got to see our fellowman at their
very best. Jesus said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We actually got to see
this come true in both Texas and Oklahoma as people of all races, creeds and
faiths stepped up to the plate to help those hit hardest by recent events.
Hard times
are indeed difficult. I’m not sure anyone gets through this life without going
thru some hard times. But in the midst
of it all we get to see the very best in the human spirit. There is no denying
the hurt, sorrow and pain of hard times. Thankfully there is also no denying
the good in people as they rise to the occasion to reach out to their fellowman
in help, love, caring and compassion.
Life isn’t
always easy but in the midst of the hard times we get to see the very best in
people. And for that I am humbled and most grateful.
May the Lord
Bless & Keep You & Yours,
Signed,
David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan
