God and the Albertville Tornado

Let me preface this, should you be reading, that this is not an attempt to convert you to Christianity, nor am I "preaching," as it were. I am simply stating what I think, in the only way I know how, solely based on my own experience, education and belief system...

I keep hearing people say -- either verbally or via posts on Facebook -- things such as, "My child asked me how Jesus could let this tornado damage our town -- how do I explain that?" or "I can't believe God allowed this to happen to us." or "God took my house away." I even heard a pastor on a local news station say that God had spared his church. People are asking, "Where was God when the tornado came?"

Here is my response, and you can take it or leave it: Jesus did not "let" this tornado affect the town so epicly. God did not "allow" this to happen to you. God absolutely did not take your house away. God did not "spare" one church and smite another.

So where was God? God was the father who could think of nothing but his family while he tried to protect them, hunkered down in the hallway. God was the mother who, perhaps for the first time, did not know how to protect her children. God was the child looking to his parents for comfort. God was the man or woman that kept a cool head in the midst of total chaos. God was the volunteer who showed up with a chain saw and helped a dear friend, or even a complete stranger, remove trees from her yard. God was the various people who handed out bottled water and food. God was all those who lifted up a prayer for loved ones and strangers alike. God was the family who had no damage that generously took in another family until they can get back on their feet. God was the city employees who worked -- and still are working -- tirelessly to get electricity back to people's houses. God was the faithful few that took communion and gave thanks in their church courtyard, though the church building had a gash in the ceiling and the walls were leaning off the foundation.

My Aunt Pam, a very wise and wonderful lady, sent a message to me. It was in response to a post on my Facebook page, where I said that I was sad to see our church damaged, but that I was excited and comforted about the new possibilities that lay ahead. Aunt Pam's message read, "This didn't take the Lord by surprise -- he already has the plans laid out. It is just our job to seek his will."

We are not God's playthings. He is not some grand puppet master, and we are not his puppets. I hope that people will stop believing that God caused this destruction. I hope that parents will stop letting their children believe that Jesus took their homes and trees away. I hope people will stop thinking that God was merciful to some and merciless to others. I hope people will stop asking, "What did God do to me?" and ask instead, "What does God want for me?"