"In the near future." Since the future is always beyond us, then can we ever reach the end of "soon" so we can do what we promised we would do "soon?"
Tonight I am tired but as I opened my blog to get quicker entry to Amy's, Cindy's, and Jessica's blogs, I realized I had "promised" a real entry "soon." That was about five weeks ago. So much has happened in that amount of time that it will take me considerable time to share half of it. Right now I am only going to comment on one thing.
I have become a storm chaser. No, I don't hop in my car and head out on the back roads to see if I can spot a funnel cloud or baseball-size hailstones. I let others do that. I go along for the ride from the comfort of my bedroom. When the tornadoes move through Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, etc., I am glued to the screen. It is not excitement I am seeking. I am watching to see how close the storms come to those I love. And through this I have found how much I deeply love not only my own blood family but my family of human beings.
My heart has been touched tremendously by the tragedies, the losses, the miracles of survival, and the pouring out of love and compassion. I don't know what more I can do besides donate and pray, but I wish I could do more. One of the first things I do after any tragedy--earthquake, tsunami, flood, tornado, etc.--I go the lds.org, find the link to the newsroom, and look for the words I need desperately to read: "All missionaries are safe and accounted for." Somehow reading those words helps me know that the Lord is with all the people, that even though there are deaths and destruction everywhere, He is steering the rescuers, pouring out the compassion, and we as a people become one. There are no more "colors" or "parties"--we are all brothers and sisters, and what one is feeling the others are feeling.
And I begin to count my blessings.
