When our family lived in Tecumseh, we experienced Oklahoma’s severe weather firsthand. One beautiful night, the weather suddenly changed. The programming on TV was interrupted by weather alerts and meteorologist. Soon, the maps on the TV showed the storms moving towards our community. There was enough excitement on the TV that we started to pay attention. Before long, the sirens began to sound. Aimee and I gathered up our daughters and quickly made our way to our neighbor’s cellar. There we were joined by several other neighbors. We went in and closed the door. When we emerged, our neighborhood had been ravaged by a tornado. It went right down our street! Our church and our parsonage were damaged along with so many of our neighbors’ homes. Thankfully, no one was injured.
We checked on our neighbors and our house. Soon, Aimee and I made our way to the church to see if the building was damaged. We stood in the front yard, shocked at the broken stained glass. It was such a sad sight. While we stood there in disbelief, my phone rang. To my surprise, it was the Rev. Linda Harker. She was the District Superintendent in Muskogee. She had seen the reports of a tornado on the ground in Tecumseh and called. She simply wanted to make sure we were safe and to offer her support.
The next several days were challenging as we worked with so many people to help our community recover from the tornado. So many came to help repair roofs, deliver food to workers, and help neighbors mend. When I look back on that difficult time, I remember that phone call from a pastor so far away. In the midst of chaos, sadness and shock, Rev. Harker offered a peaceful presence.
That phone call from Linda taught me the importance of being a proactive neighbor. When trials come to our friends, family, and neighbors, we should reach out. It may be as simple as a phone call, but it can make a huge difference. Loving our neighbor is an active practice, but we can share God’s love as we care for others in need.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
