New Orleans to Bowling Green. . .

I was filled with a rush of different emotions last night as 3 of our staff members returned to Bowling Green after following God's voice to pack up and drive to New Orleans for 4 days. They returned with 10 people needing a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear. Our staff guys simply made the 20 hour trek to the gulf coast without any plan other than to see how they could help - and with the hopes of possibly bringing back a small family for our church to adopt for a few months.

They were overwhelmed with people needing a place to live - buying a used van to help transport as many people back as possible. I met the 10 people last night (ranging from grandparent to small child). At first, I was thrilled at the chance to help these people. I imagined the scenes I had witnessed on the tv from the crowded shelters and was glad that our church could rescue 10 people from this way of life. But, when I left to lead worship at our service last night, I was overtaken with a different emotion. I walked into the student union to see hundreds of people sitting around with food, laptops, ipods, and starbucks coffee. I was appalled at the fact that normal life can continue here while so many are hurting across the country. The families from New Orleans suddenly became more human to me. These are not simply people that needed "rescued." These are men, women, and children that have families, personalities, dreams, and life ambitions, yet all of their remaining earthly possessions are stuffed into 2 or 3 government provided net bags as they try to find a temporary home 20 hours from the wreckage of their houses- not even having clean clothes to wear.

I could not lead the h2o service last night as if everything was normal. Yet, worship seemed a little deeper for me as we sang about the hope that comes from God. I'm confident that this experience will change our church forever.