Hurricanes

Some parts of Louisiana were hit by three hurricanes this year. Just when they had cleaned up after one diaster, another came in. Having participated on several disaster recovery teams one thing is abundantly clear. The survivors are always more concerned about family and friends than they are about the damage to their homes. Sure, they grieve the loss of valuables and memories. But they are thankful that their family is healthy and are still together.

Currently, a credit card company advertises with the slogan, “what’s in your wallet?” A bigger question is, “what’s in your house?” If a disaster struck, what would you most want to protect? Would it be the possessions that you have acquired over the years? Would it be the items with special memories attached? Or would it be the people who make a house a home? My guess is that it would be the people. They represent your true affections and their loss would cause you to suffer the most.

King David wrote about a different house and what he cared about the most. Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” What mattered most to David, and should matter most to us, is staying close to God, dwelling in his presence.