PEA RIDGE — While we love Pea Ridge, we quickly confess that part of our heart is in Georgia with our daughter Lindsey, our son-in-law and three (well, soon to be four) precious grandchildren. On the afternoon of May 22, Kim and I left to spend a few days with these precious grandchildren (and their parents).

While on our way, we started picking up bits of news through Facebook and Twitter that Joplin had been hit by a major tornado. That night we stayed in Birmingham, Ala., and learned more as we watched the news. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Georgia, but found our hearts torn as we prayed for those affected by this terrible disaster. While playing with grandchildren, we also wanted to be in Joplin helping with cleanup and recovery.

We longed to go and offer to hurting residents a helping hand, a prayer and word of hope in the darkness.

This is close enough to home to be more personal than similar disasters that we’ve watched from afar.

Most of us know someone that has lost their home, a loved one or their own life.

I think this proximity leaves us with more emotions and questions to struggle with than when a tornado results in terrible loss in Alabama or somewhere else. There are so many emotions and questions that seem to have no answers. And yet we seem to seek these answers.

It was at a National Prayer Service the Friday after 9/11 that the Rev. Billy Graham addressed the mystery of evil and the beauty of hope and began to do what he has done so many times and in so many places. He talked about the fragility of life. And then he preached the Cross, God’s response to evil. He preached the resurrection, God’s hope for eternity. It was a wonderful expression of hope in a dark and difficult time.

Later in the day I read a report of statements made by Rev. Jerry Falwell, which basically pointed the finger of blame at people who had chosen lifestyles contrary to the Scripture as having helped this tragedy happen.

It was basically a statement of cause and affect. His perspective was, you people sinned and brought this tragedy on us. I must confess that often I find the attempt to answer these questions very frustrating. I believe we should be very, very, very wary about giving God-oriented answers to questions that are far above our pay grade.

I came across an article by Craig Nash where he talks about these questions of why. Consider this excerpt: “These are questions that have mystified humanity since the beginning of time.

I have found that usually the best, and most honest, answer to these questions isa giant shrug of the shoulders and an ‘I don’t know’.

“I tend to believe that tornadoes occur when circumstances in the atmosphere are favorable for them and that forest fires spread when a spark is ignited in a place that has experienced a long drought and high winds.

Planes fly into buildings when people conspired to make it happen. Cancer happens when cells in a body divide and grow at an abnormal rate and destroy tissue and blood.”

Philip Yancey wrote a classic book entitled “Where Is God When It Hurts?” It is a wonderful, thoughtful work on this important subject. I highly recommend it. It can help you wrestle with this and other disasters.

I also recommend that you look for God in the midst of the recovery. Look for Him in the love and care demonstrated by so many peoplewho help at a time like this.

Leave the questions of why for another day and ask what God wants you to do to help.

Go to Joplin and volunteer.

I’ll end with a couple of verses that remind us that God is present and walks with us through these kinds of tragedies. I pray you seek God’s presence and love and allow Him to care for the hurting through you.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.” Psalms 46:1-2 (NLT)◊◊◊

Editor’s note: Al Fowler is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at 451-8192, or by email at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 06/08/2011