Prayers for Texas....

Last night I woke up several times during the night to turn on the TV and see how Texas was doing. I felt guilty all warm and safe in my bed with my window open and a soft end-of-summer breeze drifting in while I knew that down south, thousands and thousands of people were not resting so peacefully. Many were evacuated to shelters where they stayed wondering about the fate of their homes while others were hunkered down where they were - riding it out with no electricity, while the winds and waters whipped around them. And then there were others stranded on roof tops, or oil freighters, or worse.

I prayed for the safety of people I didn't know. It seems surreal. The way we are all connected to one another when tragedy strikes - even though we may be on different sides of the country. Perhaps it's because Hurricane Ike decided to strike right on the heels of the anniversary of 9/11 that the kinship resonated so deeply with me. We are all connected in one way or another - if by nothing else - our humanity.

As John Donne so eloquently penned... "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

I've tried in vain this morning to check up on fellow bloggers who live in Texas. Silly right? No power...and as if they'd be sitting in front of their computers anyway.

Let's collectively offer a prayer for those who have been touched by this disaster. May God draw near to them and keep them safe. My He instill in them hope...and faith that He will be with them in the days to come. And may He let each of us know what we can do to help.

(I'd say a donation to the Red Cross would be a great way to begin.....please pass that last thought on!)