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God Pays Great Interest Rates!
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God Pays Great Interest Rates!
My trip was supposed to end with a speaking engagement in Houma, Louisiana, which is just south of New Orleans. My girlfriend Janice Sullivan and I had been planning this event for almost a year. I was going to stay at her home and she and her husband Jimmy had promised to take me boating, Cajun dancing, and to their church. Janice had already prepared my Cajun food and it was waiting for me in her freezer. I envisioned playing with her grandchildren and there was even a hint of a frogging trip out in the bayou. It seemed a perfect way to end the journey, Pocket Full of Quarters - 2005.
Since I hadn’t watched television or read the newspaper in months, at first, I didn’t understand the magnitude of what had happened on the Gulf coast. When I was in New Mexico headed east on Interstate 10, Uncle Bobby called and said, “You aren’t going to be speaking in Houma next weekend.”
I argued with my uncle, sure he was being over protective. I called Bob and he suggested I check with Janice to find out how conditions were. I called Janice. Janice and Jimmy had power and minimal damage from the storm. The roads from Interstate 10 to Houma were open, so at first, we thought we’d go ahead with the visit and the event.
When the levies broke in New Orleans and the situation deteriorated, my uncle called again, more concerned than ever. “People are getting shot in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Please don’t go near there.”
I called Janice again. Janice didn’t have cable and didn’t fully understand what was going in New Orleans. “Cheryle, I don’t know what to do. We count on people from New Orleans to attend this event and they won’t come. Could you visit me anyway, even if we cancel the event?” Determined, I kept driving Interstate 10 and got as far as Texas.
In Texas, there were signs everywhere. “Interstate 10 closed at Baton Rouge. Please take alternative routes.” I turned on the radio to hear reports of growing numbers of refugees in Texas and violence breaking out in places other than New Orleans. That night, I logged on to CNN.COM and wept as I watched in horror.
I was to the point in Interstate 10 where I had to make a decision about taking Interstate 20 or continuing on Interstate 10. I called Bob, sure he would encourage me to continue along Interstate 10. Surprisingly, he said, “Cheryle, you have a generator and people are desperate for electricity. There are refuges all along the road you will be traveling on. I’m afraid someone will see the tail pipe on the RV and shoot you for the generator.”
Still not convinced, I asked God if I should consider going into the area and helping. I felt the Still Small Voice telling me to listen to the voice of experts. I turned on the car radio to hear the words, “We are asking people not to come near this area. If you want to help, give money. Please plan your travel route north of Interstate 10 and avoid southern Louisiana if at all possible.” I felt God saying, "You can help later but for now, avoid the area and get home."
I called Janice. She had talked to the others that were putting on the event and they didn’t think anyone would attend it, even if we held it. Janice and I cried and prayed together as we realized we had to cancel our plans.
After getting off the phone with Janice, I called my aunt and uncle to assure them I wouldn’t be traveling towards New Orleans. As I talked to them, I went to crying again. Aunt Ka Ka said, “I can tell you’re disappointed. I hate it when things disappoint you. Cheryle, you need to write something about the tragedy in New Orleans.” I knew she was right but my emotions ran too deep to express.
Uncle Bobby and Bob helped find a northerly route and I began making my way home. We decided I would route around most of Mississippi and travel Interstate 40. That meant I had to travel north from Texas to Oklahoma and through Arkansas. Home seemed a long way away.
As I traveled, I saw refugees or people helping refugees everywhere. Wall*Mart parking lots had people sleeping in their cars. Signs with directions to refugee centers littered the highways. Welcome centers and rest stops had hollow eyed exhausted tattered people wandering aimlessly around. Everyone was talking about Katrina and most were looking for someone or something to blame.
Some wanted to blame God or people’s lack of following God:
“It’s God’ wrath because of sin. He decided He wasn’t going to put up with what was going on in New Orleans any longer and He wiped them out.”
“God is testing us.”
“It’s a disaster of Biblical proportions. It’s like the end of the world.”
Many were blaming politics and/or politicians:
“President Bush turned down a budget request to fix the levies.”
“The Mayor of New Orleans (or Governor of Louisiana, or FEMA…) knew this was a high possibility and should have had a plan ready.”
Surprisingly, many blamed the victims of Hurricane Katrina:
“They were warned and should have left. It’s their own fault they’re stuck.”
“Did you see all those school busses under water? They could have rode those out of there.”
“No one should have built a city there to begin with. Why was anyone living in New Orleans when they knew this could happen?”
Some blamed prejudice for lack of a better emergency response:
“If the people stranded were white and rich, they would already be out of there.”
I winced every time I heard the harsh words of blame and yet I understood them. If we could blame someone, we could convince ourselves that this tragedy was avoidable, thus making us feel safer. Blame makes us feel like we have some measure of control over such nightmarish events and once we start blaming, there is plenty of blame to go around. The problem with blaming is that it hurts those trying to respond and uses time and energy needed for taking action.
The truth is, we have little control over catastrophic natural disasters and are seldom as prepared as we wish. These disasters aren’t a respecter of persons, races, legislation, morals, religion, or anything else that is a part of our civilization, values, or culture. Natural disasters could and might happen to any one of us at any time and it terrifies us to admit it.
The devastation from Katrina was so large that many didn’t know what to do and were in danger of doing nothing. Being overwhelmed with the magnitude and not knowing what to do or say is why I couldn’t write about it.
The Saturday night after Katrina, I found myself at a KOA in Fort Smith, Arkansas. “Do you have a suggestion for a church to attend tomorrow?” I asked.
“What type of church would you like,” the owner, Linda, asked.
“As long as it’s Christian, I don’t care,” I said. I told her a little about Pocket Full of Quarters.
“Well,” she said, “I’m Southern Baptist. I play the piano for Rudy Baptist Church. If you want, you could ride with me in the morning.”
I’d spent the last several weeks in many different types of churches and had enjoyed them, but I was homesick for the familiar. “Do they have Sunday School?” I asked excitedly. “None of the places I’ve visited recently had Sunday School. I’m Southern Baptist and have missed my Baptist services.” Linda assured me they had Sunday School and we made plans for meeting the next morning.
Rudy Baptist Church in Rudy, Arkansas was a tiny quaint stone church that averages about 30 people on Sunday. Everyone welcomed Linda and me as we entered the Sunday School class. The class was full of talk about Katrina and the church’s response.
“People keep calling me looking for lost relatives,” Linda said. “Their relatives had previously evacuated to Arkansas and they were hoping they had done so again. KOA’s in other areas are full of refugees.”
“What do you think we should do?” the class asked their pastor, Brother Kenny Poague.
“You’re preaching my sermon,” he teased. “I’m going to talk about our response in the worship service.” Satisfied, the class went on to the lesson. I wasn’t surprised that the topic was about sharing the love of Christ with others. That had been the theme of the entire Pocket Full of Quarters journey and I guess God felt like I still had more to learn.
After Sunday School, the class wandered their way upstairs to the sanctuary. The same people who were in Sunday School were also in the worship service. Bro. Poague began his sermon by admitting, “The problem with Katrina is so big that I was tempted to think I couldn’t possibly make a difference.” I gasped, knowing I’d felt the same way. He went on. “Then I realized that each of us needs to ask the question, ‘what can I do?’ As Christians, our response should be the greatest and each one of us needs to do and give as much as we are able.”
Bro. Poague used the scripture text, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. “We might be a small church, but like the Macedonia churches, we can give as much as we are able and even beyond our ability. The generosity of Macedonia sprang from their poverty. We can do something!” I could feel the enthusiasm building in the people as he talked.
2 Cor 8:1-3
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. NIV
Bro Poague referenced 2 Cor. 9:7 and said, “God wants a cheerful giver. If you’re going to grumble about what you do, keep your wallets closed!”
2 Cor 9:7
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NASU
Bro Poague continued. “According to Proverbs 19:17, if you’re gracious to the poor you’re lending to the Lord. God’s interest rates are great!”
Proverbs 19:17
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. NASU
“If you help these people, you’re helping Jesus,” Bro. Poague told his beloved congregation. “Ask yourself, ‘If I were in this situation, what would I want people to do for me?’ Each of us should do what we can and beyond.” Thankfully, there was not one word of blame in his entire sermon.
Bro. Poague ended the service by passing the offering plate for Katrina victims and allowing the congregation to decide where to send the donation. It was amazing to watch the power of the Holy Spirit as this church came together to help. They had a lively debate about where to send the money but when they finally voted, it was unanimous. They also decided to come back together that evening with clothes and toiletries for the local refugee shelter.
As I left the church, I began watching all of the people who were doing something. My bayou friends, Janice and Jimmy spent their weekend cleaning out closets and drawers to give clothes and blankets to local refugees. Jimmy saved a neighbor’s food by sharing his generator. They spent some of their days helping sort clothes for the local refugee center.
My sister-in-law Susan spent much of her week fixing up my mother-in-law’s home so that a stranded refugee family could move in at no cost. Several people from a local church have offered to help fix up this house to make more habitable.
KOA Campgrounds throughout Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana were hosting refuges. I passed refugee shelters all along the road. Wal*Mart’s parking lots are open to those who need to spend the night and had someone at their door taking donations for refugees. Trucks were sitting in Wal*Mart parking lots for people to bring clothing, food, and water.
My Gainesville church, First Baptist Church was donating money to house local refugees. My daughter was going with her church, North Jacksonville Baptist Church, to Mississippi to help clear trees and debris. My Jacksonville church, Southside Baptist Church encouraged people to give money, made one of the church-owned houses available to a refugee family, and was planning mission trips later in the year to help. Everywhere I looked, people were helping.
I beg everyone to stop looking to blame and to do something. Show support and loyalty to our President as he leads our nation in response. Give money to trustworthy local and national organizations and businesses that are helping. Give time, resources, and compassion to the displaced citizens that are living in your area. People will need help for a long time to come so be faithful as the new wears off this tragedy. Later, there will be a time for a proper debrief of our nation’s preparedness and response, but now is the time for us to come together as a nation and help each other.
A tragedy of this magnitude impacts all of us personally, spiritually, and/or economically. Lend to God by helping His children. Turn to God and ask, “What can I do?” When He answers you, do it! God pays great interest rates!
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