When power is lost,
the power of our United Methodist connection shines bright.
It might have been vandalism, it might have been an act of domestic terrorism.
No one knows yet.
What is known, is that Saturday evening
two sub-stations powering the homes, businesses, schools, day cares, hospitals,
nursing homes, gas stations, churches, and every stop light and street light in Moore County
were damaged with gunfire, leaving everyone in the dark.
When a hurricane is bearing down, everyone knows to make preparations.
Gas tanks are topped off, electronics are charged, prescriptions are filled,
batteries, flashlights, candles and matches are located,
necessities are stocked for the possibility of life
without electricity.
But Saturday night, the dark came without warning.
One minute, the lights and The Andy Griffith Show were on,
the next second, it was pitch black.
If our electronics weren’t charged…we suddenly found ourselves with
no alternative but to talk to our family members. (-:
But first, we had to locate the flashlight in the dark without hitting our shin
on the corner of the table which we realize is there only after hitting our shin!
If dinner wasn’t cooked or heated in the microwave,
it wouldn’t be cooked or would be eaten cold.
And that gas tank hovering around E? The calculations began as to how far we’d have
to drive and whether or not we’d be able to make it.
In a blink we went from light to dark, ready or not.
Whenever there is a power outage, Tom and I eventually have the same thought.
After we stop rubbing our shin and find the flashlight to assess our situation,
our thoughts turn to those dependent on machines for their health and care.
(Our daughter Laura Grace had a feeding tube and was one of those dependent on a machine plugged into an outlet to get her nourishment.)
There are many on oxygen, or feeding tubes, those who can’t get out of a chair
without the electric lift feature, and those who can’t navigate well in the light,
let alone the dark.
The loss of electricity magnifies the needs of those with daily struggles.
This criminal intentional act has caused challenge, danger, and harm for many struggling
to care for children, older adults, and themselves amid the cold of winter.
Our prayers and our actions are needed more than ever.
This is one of the many reasons I am so thankful for our United Methodist connection.
Our Conference Disaster Ministry Team is ready to help for any and every disaster.
Hurricane, flood, pandemic, tornado, or sub-station sabotage.
Their mission statement on our conference webpage is:
“A caring Christian presence in the aftermath of disaster”
and that is wholly accurate and a holy gift.
After the lights went out, I contacted Al Miller and our NC Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Ann Huffman, and within minutes received a call from Al offering help
for the churches and communities of Moore County.
Al and his team brought generators and provided two solar paneled charging stations
to two locations in the county.
At the time of this writing, generators have been offered to households with medical needs,
communities in the southern and northern parts of the county are able to charge their
electronics for work and communicating with loved ones,
the Southern Pines UMC food pantry remains operational as refrigerators and freezers
are kept running, and a warming station with plans for offering soup and coffee is being made available at Vass UMC.
Thanks be to God for our connection!
Thank you for your faithfulness in your apportionment
giving which makes this response of help possible.
Thank you for shining the light of Christ!
“…in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it”. John 1:4-5
Always thankful for the light you shine
Dena
The picture above is Al Miller, Tom Decker, Kevin Davis at Vass UMC.
