Close calls

Pictured above: The hole in Brad Chiles' roof above where he had been sitting. Photo by Jessica Brodie.

By Jessica Brodie

I stood in the empty remains of the man’s bedroom, staring up at the gaping hole in the ceiling above us. I was in Greenwood almost two weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through and wreaked havoc on that community as well as so many others. The man, Brad Chiles, told me he had been sitting in his bedroom, awake in the chair as the storm rattled the house above him. His two dogs, frightened, rested on his bed as he waited for the storm to pass by. One tree fell, shaking the windowpanes so hard they broke. Then came another, its limbs crashing right through the roof of his house and into the attic directly above him, where he stored a number of household items—including heavy pots and pans. Only one relatively light lid fell down upon him, leaving his arm with a small scrape. At the time, I didn’t think it was a close call, he told me, “But perhaps I should have.”

Isn’t that the way it is for most of us? We go through life thinking we have years upon years left on this earth with our loved ones, doing our jobs and all the other things we consider to be so important. As we do, perhaps those close calls loom all around us. Even if we don’t know it at the time, even if we can’t see it coming, any moment could be our last.

That is why the most important thing we United Methodists need to be focusing on right now isn’t speaking out against or about politics or church squabbles or the wrongs and often-skewed values of this world. It’s the things of eternity, the things we actually take with us into the world to come. Love. Hope. Joy in the simple moments.

Those are the things that truly matter in this life and the next.

Yes, we’ve experienced great suffering, both in our individual lives and as a denomination. But that doesn’t define us. What marks God’s people as different is our ability to keep our minds set on hope and joy instead of the earthly pressures and trials that weigh us down.

On pages 8-10 of this edition are a few examples of the ways God’s people stepped up to help after the storm, offering hope and love and joy in the midst of suffering. Whether coming to someone’s aid with repairs, or offering prayer, food, supplies or other assistance, reaching out in Christian love is always the right answer.

I had the opportunity to be at the Summit on the Black Church in Summerville last month, just a week after Hurricane Helene, and Dan Canada brought a strong word during his morning devotional that Friday about following God’s commands.

“God’s instructions are not difficult,” Canada told the crowd. “What is difficult is believing he will make it all work out. What is difficult are all the ‘what ifs’ that immediately flood our minds.”

For instance, Jesus told us to sell all we have and give it to the poor. But what if I get hungry, we ask. What if I rip my clothes? What if I need money to get a place to stay?

We are commanded to love, even in the midst of close calls, hardship and despair. Let’s forget the what-ifs and other concerns and keep our sights upon him.

And let’s love, no matter what.