Katrina Opportunities

 

Published 2/26/06

 

In their February 17 letter “Storm has made us appreciate what matters” Paul and Tracie Sones described how losing their home and possessions caused them to discover joy in doing the simple tasks of life and adapting to new challenges.  They stated “This storm has not changed who we are. It has made us appreciate what matters.”

 

From the opposite perspective, it probably also made them realize just how much of our pre-Katrina activities DIDN’T matter.

 

In subsequent correspondence, the Soneses stated “Through our trials and tribulations, we have learned the faces and personalities of our neighbors.  Before we only knew their names.  We have laughed, cried, and ‘treasure hunted’ together.”

 

Apparently Katrina has enabled them to see that it is the basic human activities, and ONLY the basic human activities, that make our lives rich.  Our possessions, nice houses, and leisure activities, in my opinion, only serve to distract us from what’s really important.  And, what’s really important is serving, and being served by, our fellow man.  Benjamin Franklin observed, “Serving God is doing good to man……”

 

Some have expressed the desire to “reclaim” their lives.  What I assume they mean is that they want to get back to the point where they have nice, predictable, “secure” lives.  The fact is, the only life we have is THIS VERY MOMENT, and if we’re going to spend all our time striving to reclaim what we’ve lost, we’re going to miss out on the life we have right now.

 

Katrina forced violent change on a lot of people.  But change is part of nature, as is the pain associated with it.  Once we’ve mastered the pain, however, we should be mindful of the wonderful opportunities that this change has given us.  Opportunities to start our lives afresh with, perhaps, nobler priorities.