Twenty Years of Grace

It is hard to believe that 20 years ago this week, our region was forever changed by the winds and waters of Hurricane Katrina. Twenty years is a long time by some standards, yet sometimes Katrina seems like it just happened. In conversation, it is not uncommon to hear people reference something in the past as, “before the storm” meaning, before Katrina.

As we approach Aug. 29, may I suggest we approach this anniversary in a way that gives thanks to God for the grace these past 20 years have brought into our lives? 

When you stop to think about it, there is an entire generation of people who were not yet born in 2005. They only know of Katrina through stories and the memories of others. How much grace has each of these new lives brought into the world? How much joy and love has God brought forth in our community through the gift of their lives? May I suggest that it is an inconceivable amount, and let us give thanks to God for that.

Perhaps more tangibly, we have seen reconstruction of homes, churches, stores and other centers of community life. We have seen church parishes come back from the brink of despair and destruction to be vibrant and flourishing communities where our faith is shared. Without taking away the importance of recovery resources, I can say with confidence that these types of resurrections can only happen by the grace of God and by we, his people, being open to his grace and allowing it to work through us.

Yes, these 20 years have not been without trial. Some challenges remain, but if they have taught us nothing else, they have taught us that, “God is faithful.”