What would happen if we loved our neighbors everyday…like we do after a Storm?
Its pretty much a guarantee that life will throw us some curve balls now and then. We are faced with betrayals, illness, disappointment and loss. These “storms” have the ability to turn our world upside down. But what happens to us when the storms are literal….
Today I found myself in a neighborhood effected by the recent Atlanta flood. My friends and I, along with countless volunteers, spent the better part of the day ripping out dry wall, filling up dumpsters, spraying bleach solution to fight off mold, packing up boxes and ultimately extending a helping hand to those in need.
The work that was done today was heartbreaking. The loss and destruction around me was traumatic. But what stood out to me the most was the overwhelming spirit of giving.
I witnessed flood victims sharing valuable limited resources. I saw company trucks drop off dehumidifiers, fans and generators without an expectation of payment. There were countless offers of food and drink. Neighbors helping other neighbors load heavy furniture into dumpsters. Front doors were left open as strangers made their way into homes to offer their help.
The capacity that we all have to love one another amazes me. It saddens me to know that it takes a flood to bring it out.
My experience today as seen though an Iphone:
The aftermath of 5ft of water. Everything that the water touched had to be torn down and thrown away.
People homes and prized possessions become instant garbage.
This was the worst effected home. The water filled up the entire basement as well as the entire first floor, and the family had to be rescued by fire fighters. The experience was so traumatic that they haven't been back. At this point, since dry wall wasn't immediately taken down, the house is a total loss as mold has already started to grow. Truly heartbreaking.
The water rose so fast. No time to even get the car out of the garage. This SUV was completely under water.
You can see the water line on the posts.
Its the water lines that make you stop and think. They make the reality of it very hard to overlook.
Mailboxes now have yellow tags marking homes that were effected by the flood.
Entire sets of furniture now sit in front yards waiting to be put into dumpsters.
It doesn't take long to fill up the dumpsters...
To add insult to injury the rain moved in later in the afternoon.
To put a face on the flood victims let me introduce you to this little guy. Here he stands in his Scooby Doo bedroom as his mom and dad load up any salvageable things into a Uhaul. It will be months before he gets to come back to his house...
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