Find the people

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin spoke on Fox News uttering the heart-wrenching words, “Find the people.” Find the people amongst the mountainous piles of rubble and destruction.

Staring out my window at the lushness of the trees and the soft chirping of song birds, the world seems quiet and silenced, all in sympathy and awe.

Just hours ago a massive two-mile-wide wildly ferocious F4 tornado with winds as strong as 200 miles per hour devastated the City of Moore, 10 miles south of Oklahoma City, leaving in its wrath desolation, death and great sadness… seven children gone, seven… with a death toll officials say could top 90.

How do we come out of such a horrific tragedy? How do we survive without our own blood? Or the loss of a friend who may as well be family?

How do we find our house in tatters on the ground? A “home” we have made memories in or have the dream of creating memories? The slashing of what could have been…

If it doesn’t kill us, will it make us stronger? Kelly Clarkson has some truth in that song, does she not?

As I ponder on the event and all these circumstances that affect our lives with such intensity, my eyes are wet with tears for the loss experienced, and I always come to the same question: Why?

A friend once told me, “Don’t ask why, you have to trust,” but sometimes it’s just so hard when people all around you are hurting.

So being the forever optimist, I put on my rosy glasses that have sustained a few cracks throughout the years (making it difficult to see through them) and ask myself now, will any good come out of this?

Perhaps estranged family members will reunite, true friends made, for there’s nothing greater than the bond humans share with one another.

And then I find myself angry because some of these people will have to go through the painful stages of grief and don’t even have insurance.

The Oklahoma governor deployed 80 National Guard members to assist with rescue operations, activated extra highway patrol officers and after consultation with President Barack Obama, the city was declared a major disaster area and federal aid has been ordered to supplement state and local recovery efforts.

Let’s pray that all will be done, and these people will be well sheltered, clothed and not be hungry, that they will “find the people ” and one day live in peace again.

In closing I leave you with one word to contemplate on: “Hope.”

It’s my oldest daughter’s name, and I love that every time I say it, I look at her and am reminded of the hope she gave us, gives us everyday, and how we as humans can triumph over what ever gets us down.

No matter what the sadness, tragedy or turmoil we face, there’s always love and the promise of a rainbow.

Ciao Bella

Posted by Janel M. Harrison on May 23, 2013. Filed under Columns,Girl-2-Girl,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry