The World According To Chris Brewer

Sorry guys, but a sobering post tonight.

I know Hurricane Katrina has been the topic of discussion for the past two days, and some people are tired of hearing about it. If you happen to be one of those people, get a heart and realize that this could very well be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. And it certainly doesn’t help that the city of New Orleans was once only protected from Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River by simple levees.

What has gone on over the past couple days has helped me not only realize how blessed I am to have a roof over my head, clothes to wear and food to eat — but I also have an overwhelming sense of sadness when I see pictures and video from the hurricane and subsequent flooding. Channel 4 out of New Orleans, WWL, showed some surreal video: a freeway submerged and pieces of bridges floating around, people who lost their homes looking around wondering what to do next with their lives, Coast Guardsmen rescuing people from their houses, broadcasters throwing away all the common rules of what goes on at the news desk and appearing just as human as the rest of us. Take the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka and equate the damage with what happened here in the Gulf Coast….it’s that bad. The magnitude of what is going on down there is staggering.

Not only was New Orleans hit hard, but Alabama and Mississippi were walloped too. Mobile, AL is another city underwater. Biloxi and Gulfport, MS have ceased to exist. It’s a nightmare. Look at the video on any major news network and you’ll see it’s a wonder how anyone survived.

On a personal note, I have friends who live down in Mississippi. Can’t reach them…I tried calling my friend Wendy on her cell phone and I got a repeated message saying that phone service has been cut due to the hurricane. I remember meeting a bunch of the Mississippi folks at the COGOP’s national youth conference this year….I have been in constant prayer for not only them and their families, but for everyone affected by this disaster.

The worst thing anyone living in New Orleans and the surrounding area could have feared, has happened. Millions are homeless, many cities have been destroyed and those of us who have not been immediately affected should find some way to help out…whether it be by a simple prayer, financial support, or whatever God leads you to do.