Helping Chimney Rock, NC
As the election results role in, remember the people still suffering in Hurricane Helene's wake.
I spent a few days last week with members of my church working with Spokes of Hope in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. Spokes of Hope has been invited in by the people of Chimney Rock to help them clean up and recover from the staggering damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
The devastation to this region in North Carolina cannot be fully comprehended through social media posts or news reports. I’ve never seen anything like it. Our team worked hard for three full days, and while progress was visible, it nevertheless felt like we hadn’t done very much. It will be months, and perhaps years before the impacted areas are back to normal. In spite of the devestation, I saw a steely resolve to recover and rebuild from the residents I met.
Since Helene hit in late September, there has been a steady stream of volunteers helping the people of North Carolina and the other states she hammered. We saw a steady stream of volunteers coming to help. They came from at least a dozen states, had no financial or personal interest in the region, but just wanted to help. Some stayed a day and moved on to another community in need. Some stayed for several days and intended to stay longer. Others were making their second or third trip. It was amazing and inspiring to see.
Today is election day. Millions will vote and, Lord willing, we’ll know tonight or tomorrow who the next President will be. The assumption going in is that this will be one of the closest elections in our history.
Many people expect civil unrest and even violence in the coming weeks, no matter which candidate wins. Experts tell us we’re as divided as we were during the Civil War. But civil unrest and violence are choices. We can choose that path, or we can choose a better one.
The people I met volunteering in Chimney Rock recover didn’t care about the political persuasion, race, or religion of Helene’s victims. They simply saw people in need and asked “How can I help?”
Tonight, as you watch the election results roll in, remember the people of Chimney Rock, NC. Think about the long road they must travel to recover. But also remember the people from all over the country who are doing a little bit each day to help Chimney Rock get back on it’s feet. I pray that spirit inspires us all to reject anger, civil unrest, and violence in favor of kindness, empathy, and compassion.