"Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is in this day, to save many people alive."
(Genesis 50: 19-20)
This verse could not ring more true for on March 28th a Tornado descended without warning at 800pm and in minutes its 160 mph winds destroyed 160 homes and left a young mother dead in its wake as it roared through the tiny community of Holly, Colorado. The massive F4 tornado twisted and turned over 20 miles on the ground before lifting back up into the dark sky. Holly, Colorado is a small town tucked in the southeast corner of Colorado near the Kansas State Line- and many of her people are related to the horse industry and this is a historic horse community.
It was truly a miracle that more people were not killed in the wake of such a powerful whirlwind.
A team of the RTCA Disaster Response White Horse Riders made up of National President Chaplain Edward Smith and Chaplains Representative Chaplain Waverly Parsons followed on the heals of Faith-based and Governmental Disaster Aid Organizations to do a personal needs assessment on the ground with the Horse Industry related family and people that were affected by this horrific event.
What they experienced and encountered was a community that might have been tiny in size (population around 1,000) but had a heart as large as the state of Colorado. The RTCA team walked, talked and prayed with horse trackers such as Rodney Anderson of Anderson Racing Stables who after suffering tornado damage at his house, responded to the cries of a child and his neighbors and raced out across live power lines and flying debries to climb into a jagged tree to assist and stay and give aid and comfort to his neighbor who unfortunately died hours after being pried from this tree, her body wrapped by the metal from her destroyed home.
The RTCA team was given a tour of the affected area by horse people such has Harold and Linda Grubbs whose historic house was miraculously and for the most part left intact and the Colorado HBPA State President Mr.Shannon Rashton. He showed them the hole in the ground that was once his home and told the story of his entire family making it into the basement as the tornado ripped into their home and threw him down the stairway and into the metal shelves as he tried to secure the basement door, but he focused on the miracle God blessed him with the survival of his wife and three children and like others in this beautiful community were looking after the needs of others.
The RTCA Response Team spent time visiting barns, ranches, homes, Gateway Down Training Center and business's of those from the horse racing community checking on them and personally letting them know that the RTCA was a ministry physically reaching out to them and to let them know the RTCA and its members cared and loved them and were there to provide whatever support or needs the RTCA could help provide. The overwhelming response from the horse community people was gratitude that the RTCA sent a team to be with them, to walk with them and to pray with them.
Biblical passage and thought in regards to disasters-
"I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things."
(Isaiah 45: 6-7)
Chaplain Waverly and myself could not but help but see comparisons we have seen at the ground zero's of other disasters- the roofless homes, the holes in the ground that marked what was once a home, downed trees and power lines, battered and twisted cars and trucks, pictures, books, or furniture scattered all over the place and shreds of fabric or clothing hanging from the jagged remains of tree branches stripped by powers and forces beyond your imagination.
And it is easy to see why the people affected by disasters sometimes question where God was during the storm or event or why God would allow such terrible things to happen.
One young man who tried to rescue his neighbors during the storm was struggling with emotional and spiritual issues. He was questioning why God would let a young mother die. He had been jovially shaking my hand. His grip tightened and he had a stern tone to his voice. he looked me in the eye and said- "Chaplains, I just want to be honest with you, I am mad at God right now, I just don't understand the death of that young mother, it is not fair."
I knew he was really searching for answers that would help make sense of the things he had seen, heard and experienced during the storm. I continued to hold his grip firmly as I placed my other hand gently on one of his strong shoulders, Chaplain Waverly moved in closer and placed his hand on the other shoulder, I looked into his sorrowful eyes and said- "Take a look at the downed trees and power lines, the crushed houses, the smashed cars, now ask yourself- isn't it amazing so many were spared? Maybe you might be able to see how much mercy and grace God showed to Holly, my eyes show me so much more tragedy could have unfolded here. But, brother let me also say that I thank you for reaching out for your neighbor, for your courage and for the fact you are alive now."
It was not a time for judgment or callousness. It was not a time for a theology debate or the pointing of the giant finger of righteousness. It was a time for Chaplain Waverly and I to just be a ministry of presence, to represent the RTCA and to let people know we loved them and cared for them and wanted to help them.
It was a joy and a blessing for us to be there and to be received so warmly and openly by the people of the horse community of Holly, Colorado. And we thank the Lord for His grace and mercy and we look forward to being a part of the recovery of this wonderful and blessed community.
Amen- Edward Smith, President of the RTCA
Monday, April 16, 2007
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