“… for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45
As the sun rose over the State of Alabama last Thursday morning, I was reminded of these words from St. Matthew's gospel. As the day progressed, the magnitude of the devastation produced by Wednesday's killer tornadoes became more apparent. Homes lost. Businesses destroyed. Lives taken. This is carnage on a scale unsurpassed by previous tornadoes.
Making sense of all this destruction is hard to do. It is all so random. Why did the storms strike where they did and when they did? We live in a natural world, created to obey certain natural laws. Just as the sun rises every day on the good and the evil, just as the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, so do natural disasters inflict harm without regard to status, family, wealth or connections. Faced with nature's awesome destructive power, who you know, what you do, and what you have count for nothing. The test of character comes in the aftermath. How will you respond to devastation in the lives of others?
The Greek social fraternities and sororities have demonstrated incredible initiative, energy and organizational ability. They have identified areas of acute need, allocated a division of labor, launched a communication network to coordinate activity, and are delivering help where it is most needed. Although I am most aware of what the Greek community is doing, I am confident that students throughout the greater UA student body, graduate and undergrad, are also engaged in relief efforts.
Coach Saban, Coach Stallngs, Coach Grant, assistant coaches, their wives and families, and athletes from across the spectrum have responded. They have established relief funds at area financial institutions, visited shelters, delivered clothing, cooked and delivered food, and in ways that may never be publicized have put into practice the Biblical injunction to clothe the naked and feed the hungry.
You may have seen news reports about corporate citizens such as Regions Bank, Coke United, and scores of others that are mobilizing their business resources and employees to address the needs of those who are hurting. The character of a business is a function of the character of its owners, managers and leaders, and the way businesses throughout our area respond to this disaster speaks volumes about that character.
The response to this disaster is not confined within the boarders of the State. Yesterday afternoon, I learned that the City of Franklin has dispatched police cars, mobile command centers, boom trucks, solid waste removal trucks, police officers, EMTs and firefighters to Tuscaloosa. These first responders come with hard-earned experience from the floods that devastated Middle Tennessee a year ago today. Regions Bank employees from Middle Tennessee will begin deploying to North Alabama starting Monday to volunteer in relief and recovery efforts.
If you are looking for ways that you might contribute to these efforts, here is a link to the most comprehensive index of relief organizations and activities available on the Internet. It is no surprise that this index is a product of the University of Alabama; in this instance the School of Library Science. I encourage each reader to consult this index and follow where you are called.
I also want to encourage all subscribers to this blog, especially those who are students at The Capstone, to share their personal experiences with the storms and the aftermath.
Recovery and reconstruction will be a long and difficult road to travel. But I have no doubt about the character of the pilgrims from The Capstone who will be taking the journey.
The Commissioner
