Winds be still.
Storm clouds pass and silence come.
Peace grace this time with harmony.
Fly, bird of hope, and shine, light of love,
and in calm let all find tranquility.
This prayer, masquerading as a hymn, says it all. Winds be still. Yesterday afternoon an EF-3 class tornado hit parts of west and north city St. Louis, including the neighborhood where the church is located, the Central West End. It was fast. The tornado warning didn’t go off on my phone until after it was over.
Bird fly high.
Lift our gaze toward distant view.
Help us to sense life’s mystery.
Fly high and far, and lead us each to see
how we move through the winds of eternity.
Folks from all over the country have reached out to see how we’re doing. How the church, its members and the city are doing. First, the building is just a building. It sustained minor damage. One of the 100+ year old maples came down blocking the front entrance and Waterman Boulevard. All the trees on the property had their tops taken off - there is plenty of clean up work ahead of us.
However, the church is its people. Our Administrative Assistant Augie Underwood was in the building when it happened and is safe. We’ve been checking in on our folks in the CWE and in the neighborhoods north and west of the church. So far, everyone is safe, and everyone lost power - including the church. If you are without power and need somewhere to stay, reach out - we have members with guest rooms. If you need supplies or financial assistance, reach out - the Caring Fund exists for just this purpose. If you just want someone to talk to, reach out. And reach out to your friends and neighbors and other members. We are a community and we exist in a community.
The city of St. Louis, our community is in shock. So far, officials know that five people have died. As midwesterners, tornados watches and warnings are common, yet a myth persists that they don’t hit urban areas. It’s going to take a little while until roads are cleared and power is restored. Unless you’re part of a work group, need to check on someone, or have to work, my recommendation is to avoid the area. There are downed power lines, blocked streets and Kingshighway is closed from Forest Park north, which includes the section in front of the church. The tornado hit the north city the hardest. The north city, already hard hit by the economic impact of systemic racism, needs its neighbors now more than ever.
Light shine in.
Luminate our inward view.
Help us to see with clarity.
Shine bright and true so we may join our songs
in new sounds that become full symphony.
People want to help. Already, local groups are organizing volunteers to help with clean up efforts. We will be organizing events at the church - watch email and social media. Please head the guidance of response teams and utility workers already on the ground. There is an Incident Command Center two blocks from the church at Kingshighway and Delmar.
Know that feelings are running high and may express themselves in unexpected ways - in yourself and others. The physical and emotional stress of surviving a natural disaster is compounded by the financial stress of losing property. For most, a home is the largest financial investment they will ever make - as well as their shelter, their safe place. You may not know which stressor is most present in someone’s life. Short tempers, acting out, lashing out and various coping mechanisms will all emerge right now.
When interacting with folks in the days and weeks to come, be gentle with each other. Give one another a little more room and a little more emotional generosity - including yourselves. It is going to take some time to rebuild, but also to work through all the attendant details of having experienced a natural disaster. Take deep breaths - and then let them out again. Keep breathing. Lean on your support systems and talk to each other. This is what makes us church - how we hold one another in times of stress and turmoil.
Winds be still.
Storm clouds pass and silence come.
Peace grace this time with harmony.
Fly, bird of hope, and shine, light of love,
and in calm let all find tranquility.
Spirit of Life and Love, Holy Within and Among Us, the storm clouds have passed, and in their wake follow sirens and horns, and the aching wail of loss. Help us to find peace in the turmoil and give grace to one another and ourselves. Lift us on wings of hope that we might shine as a beacon of love for all in our community. May it be so. Amen and Blessed Be.