For many years, we have enjoyed the beauty & bounty of the Carolina high country. October is a favorite season with its brilliant display of color.
However, this fall there is weariness in the land.
The forests were poised to burst forth with palettes of oranges, yellows, and reds. The valleys bustled with music festivals, corn mazes, pumpkins, and the bloom of fall flowers.
Then Helene.
Her vicious winds and rain ripped through the mountains shredding leaves that moments earlier had held their promise, snapping limbs, toppling majestic hemlocks and unleashing a flood from the angry skies that had nowhere to go.
The hillsides took on walls of ugly brown water, mud, trees, rhododendrons, and boulders, destroying anything and everything in its path. No stream, hollow, or river was untouched.
Now, the creeks and river rocks have settled, and they have a different flow. The banks and hillside bear witness to rubble, muck, mud, dead trees, cars, parts of homes and bridges, and endless piles everywhere.
The scars of Helene.
A pall still hangs over the land, with chainsaws, dump trucks on the ground, and the hum of helicopters in the air. The area, worn and damaged, exudes a sense of sadness.
But there is hope.
The majestic Grandfather Mountain still stands tall as a symbol of that hope!
Recently, I painted a sunrise as the vibrancy began to return (see above).
A new day dawns!
The high-country people are resilient; they are mountain-strong!
Our favorite parks, mom-and-pop stores, and local restaurants are hurting. The loss of homes and jobs and the fall tourist season have shattered the dreams of many.
But God.
As scripture reminds us, with God, all things are possible. So, we lean in and trust in His power and the possibility of restoration and renewal.
While some areas are untouched, others are still desperately in need of relief & supplies.
Please remember them.
There are so many people helping & serving with generosity of spirit, it’s so inspiring.
In the aftermath, God is at work, giving strength. And as always, moving His gospel (good news) forward. Jesus is our only real security and hope in this world.
Join me in prayer for restoration in the land & lives of the weary hearts of the people that live up here.
Lord,
Repaint & revitalize the landscape. May your power and presence be strong & evident.
You will make all things beautiful in your time. May many trust in You as Savior and may you strengthen them to go the long haul in this incredibly resilient and beautiful part of your world. Amen.
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge. “
Psalm 61:2-3
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed. “
Isaiah 54:10
A great place to volunteer or donate is http://www.Samaritanspurse.com