Trust The Lord

This is an account of my personal experience after visiting the Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi following the storm that would be KATRINA.

I had heard the stories.

I’d seen the pictures, video clips, news reels and articles.

But NOTHING could prepare me for the impact that seeing it in real life would have on my spirit, emotions... MY SOUL.

On a business trip to Biloxi, Mississippi - being the directionally challenged person that I am - I was desperately searching for the right streets to turn on in order to get to my hotel.  As I was driving down Route 49, I noticed a couple of houses with blue tarps covering their roofs. I thought to myself, “They seem to be getting things back together pretty quickly down here.” Well, as I turned right onto US 90 (Beach Blvd) and looked to my left... What I saw took my breadth away.  The devastation and despair lingered on every corner.

From the houses that had the bottom floors gutted and the upper floors still standing only by the few support beams that made up its foundation; to the restaurant signs that hovered over mounds of debris that once was it’s true structure; NOTHING was untouched by the fury of Katrina’s winds. 

There were lone staircases, still standing tall and proud, which had long since been abandoned by the structures that used to surround them. They seemed to be  leading to nowhere in particular. But if you look closer you’ll see the stairs as a true symbol of hope. Even the stairs knew to reach - UP - toward heaven.

Many trees swayed toward the ground but found just enough strength to continue to seek out its source and reach for the heavens.

While listening to the deceivingly calm sounds of the waters, I saw bridges that once crossed the Mississippi Sound were reduced to 10 foot slabs of concrete layered against each other vertically, as if just waiting to be installed instead of being destroyed by the mighty winds.

Because of legislation, the casinos on Beach Blvd had all been built upon barges on the Gulf. Everyone of them had been lifted up by the rising waters and detached from the hotels that supported them, only to float miles away like a boat lost at sea.  Many casino’s came to rest upon land-based hotels that had not suffered total destruction from Katrina.

BUT, through all of the debris and destruction was a beacon of hope still standing tall and lighting the way to the Gulf. The light-house on Rt 90. Through all of the devastation you can see God’s fury but more importantly, HIS awesome Grace, Mercy and Love.  God is bringing his people together and inspiring those who are otherwise consumed with their own lives to stop and think of those who are truly in need.  I, personally, had to stop and think about the things that I complain about and wondered do I really have anything to complain about. I realized how truly blessed I am to be able to just say “THANK YOU LORD” for the privilege of knowing you and praising you day by day.

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