Things I have learned and observed when disaster strikes

The best and the worst of people emerge and the best is exemplary and the worst is despicable.

The dormant church grows feet and hands

The alive and well churches and their members come together for even more amazing service to the community

Neighbors who normally don't even speak to each other come together to help each other and to check on each other

We come to realize that all of the opulence we enjoy here can be taken away in a moment

We need to learn to do without that opulence or will not survive

Water and ice are a real blessing

Friends are indispensable

We need to learn not to rely on computers, TV, Radio, and cell phones to communicate, but to go and check on others personally

Being without power actually gives us power to become closer knit as families and community

People are more courteous when the traffic lights are out than they are when they are working

We all have a choice to grumble and complain about what we don't have or be thankful for what we do have and look for blessings

There are those who use disaster for evil gain

We can be self-absorbed and become more so in trial

Desperation runs high when we can't have what we want or what we think should be "normal"

We live in a consumer society and are that way with God.  We put in our order with our specifications to God and when He does not fulfill our order to our specs, we get mad and bitter.

The most important thing I learned is that God rules my life, I do not.  If I rely on Him and keep my eyes focused on Him, and have my expectations in Him and Him alone, I can go through disaster or inconvenience with joy in my heart and a whole less stress!