Clay in the Hands

Last week I spent four days with some amazing college students working in West, Texas, offering our help to those who could use it in recovering from the devastating explosion that rocked that small community.  We saw, first hand, the destruction and we looked into the eyes of some of those who were there and listened to their stories.

Before I could even return home, tornados ravaged a town where we started in our ministry. Parts of Granbury, Texas were flattened last Wednesday night – leaving hundreds of people homeless – some of them, friends of ours.

Now, this morning, we listen to the reports coming out of Oklahoma and we sit with mouths open as we look at the pictures of the catastrophic damage that the tornados left in their wake.

All of these instances have claimed more than property.  These occurrences have taken lives.  As I sit here this morning, I find it hard to even think, much less put thoughts into words.  I struggle with anything meaningful to say.

But one glimmer of hope that I often cling to when faced with tragedy close to home is this:

This world is not our home – we are just passing through.

Paul tells us that we are looking into a mirror dimly but one day will see clearly.  He also says that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:17 – 18.

So take heart today.  Even in the face of tragedy, we can remember that there is so much more going on in this world that we can’t see.  Keep your focus on God and remember that this world is not our home.