The Need To Know Why

This past week was epic. Looking like one of those 70s disaster movies, our TVs were filled with images that seemed as if the world is reaching the end of days. Dead fish, tsunamis, earthquakes, possible nuclear meltdowns--all happening while nations are at war, or are on the edge of war and, God forbid, the NFL doesn't have a season this year!

Times like these wake us from our sleep. It's almost as if we have taken a nap, then are suddenly jolted out of our cozy snooze to realize a burglar has broken into our home. As Americans, we are so accustomed to having our high-octane lives running like clockwork. When something does change our comfy existence, the first thing many of us ask is, "Why?"

I remember when I first moved to Mobile, Alabama in the summer of 1985. It was amazing how Brenda's family was ready to pull together at a moments notice when the threat of a hurricane surfaced. Since her parents lived (and still do) on the water's edge of Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast, they all, as a family, had to board up the windows and lock-down anything that might become a deadly projectile in heavy winds. They did this quickly, then took cover to avoid the devastating, ruthless torrents of wind and rain. Sometimes, as with 2005's Hurricane Katrina, no matter what they did in preparation, it was to no avail; the tidal surge was so great, causing such flood damage, they had to rebuild their home.

The lessons I learned from observing Brenda and her family are two fold: First, it's always good to be ready to react in a moments notice, and second, we don't have to know "why" today. This doesn't mean that we must live in fear 24-hours a day. Rather, it's wise to think through an escape route in advance, just in case the need arises. Brenda shared that bit of "why" wisdom with me this weekend in light of all the turmoil in the world. She learned some stark lessons growing up through losing her home during 1979's Hurricane Fredric and rushing with her family to a hotel, only to have it's roof blown off while they were inside, essentially cheating death. Many times we get bogged down trying to figure out the reason the situation happened when the best thing to do is get through the imminent crisis.

It is wise to realize that the world is a volatile place. No matter what we do--by building walls, filling bank accounts, controlling each aspect of our lives to thwart injury, loss, or famine--things are going to happen. With faith in God, He will be our protection, source and healing in times of trouble. My hope is that in eternity, He will reveal why things happen like they do in this crazy world.