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Back Page Reflections On: 'this fragile earth our island home'

Back Page Reflections On 'this fragile earth our island home'
Ah, but I was so much older then I'm younger than that now
My Back Pages (Bob Dylan)

By Ladson F. Mills III
Special to VIRTUEONLINE
www.virtueonline.org
October 14, 2016

There seems to be little in the way of encouraging news these days. The Anglican Communion is hopelessly fractured. The current presidential race has sunken to the level more appropriate for a junior high quarrel than a campaign for the nation's highest office. It seems the only thing on which people can seem to agree is disagreement.

For the second time in 27 years I faced a major Hurricane as Matthew hit the barrier islands of Charleston. Much, however, has changed since Hurricane Hugo arrived in 1989.

In those days I was a 38-year-old husband and father of two young sons with responsibility for my family and an island congregation. Assigned to the local Coast Guard Command as a reserve chaplain I was to report for duty the moment the storm ended. It was a busy time and often overwhelming.

But this time was different. I had the luxury to observe in a way I had been unable to do previously.

First, I am proud of my state. The lessons learned since 1989 is proof that government can still work with the right leadership. Governor Niki Haley was the right leader. Although the state's evacuation plan put me to considerable personal inconvenience the decisions were correct. And not just by the governor but the appropriate agencies as well.

I was amazed to find police officers at gas stations to assure lines were orderly. I was impressed when many local station resupplied in the middle of the night to assure that no would be left behind due to lack of gasoline.

Buses were positioned so that those lacking personal transportation would have the means to depart to safety. There were designated shelters that accepted pets. The planning was thorough.

It was humbling to watch local firemen purchasing supplies from a grocery store. I was acutely aware that I had been ordered to safety. Duty demanded they remain in harm's way.

The young woman working at the deli counter seemed to be distracted and worried when I asked her if she was prepared for the storm. I need to be at home. I have a lot to do and I have a long drive she replied. I thanked her for being there and told her to be careful and take care of herself. As I was leaving I hear a loud Sir, Sir. Half expecting something had been left behind I turned to hear her say, you be careful too. And you take care of yourself. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we can focus on what is truly important.

In the aftermath drive back home I could not help but notice the police officers manning the roads where the traffic lights were not working. I marveled at how young they looked and how long they had remained on duty. Not only had they had supervised the gasoline lines but they remained to see that we would get home safely.

In 1989 as I balanced a family, church, and military duties I had to defer work needed to clean up my home. Since they were doing the same I made sure to wave and say thank you to every officer I passed. I am keenly aware that I had been ordered to safety. Duty demanded they remain in harm's way.

Neighbors quickly shared with each other. Those of us with generators made sure coffee and hot showers where available to those without. My new young neighbor decided his chain saw worked much more efficiently in chopping larger limbs than my old axe. He even hauled them to the street for me. I find it humorous that I am now regarded as older. Given the number of limbs he hauled aging may have its advantages.

After several days without power I encountered a worker from the local electric company during my morning run. He looked exhausted and admitted to having worked constantly with very little sleep for six days. It made his promise to do everything he could to get our power quickly restored even more special.

I felt no loss in missing the election news or which spoiled athlete-personality is protesting whatever it is they are currently protesting. It just does not seem to matter in the wake of such massive destruction. In truth it never does.

I am not being Pollyanna. Like jailhouse conversions these good feelings will not last forever. I experienced much the same after Hurricane Hugo and 9/11 where we marveled in the change, but this too quickly passed. For the moment, however, I will just savor it.

I am going use this time to concentrate on the good things that emerged from the disaster. I will say thank you to every first responder I see; police, fire and EMS. I will make sure that grocery store and gas station personnel get one as well. I will write the governor to thank her personally for a job well done and ask her pass it on to the appropriate people.

On the first Sunday following Hurricane Hugo thirty -nine parishioners and one clergyman returned to worship in a sanctuary with no electricity. By God's grace we had survived a Category 4 storm. Until then I had never used Eucharistic Prayer C and had often been dismissive of it. For some reason I decided to use it and asked the small congregation to join me around the altar. When I came to the part that reads this fragile earth, our island home I began to weep. I looked up to apologize but quickly saw there was no need. No one was paying any attention to me because they were weeping as well.

God has granted me the most amazing gift. I will be supplying at the very same Church of Our Saviour at the first Eucharist following Hurricane Matthew. And when I read those very same words I have no doubt that I will again find myself overcome by emotion.

But this time there will be a difference. I have witnessed something that I had begun to doubt still existed. The Imagio Dei, (God's Image) is much closer to the surface than I ever imagined possible. There are still those who embrace the good and want a reason to believe. There remains hunger for the Good News that only comes from Jesus Christ. I feared it had been lost.

Dr. Samuel Johnson was right in his observation that people don't need to be taught as much as they need to be reminded.

Ladson F. Mills III is a priest with over thirty years pastoral experience. He is retired and lives with in South Carolina. He was founding rector and currently serves as Scholar in Residence at the Church of Our Saviour, Johns Island. He is a regular contributor to Virtueonline.

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