Typically, this blog is reserved for things that entertain. Our world is hard to navigate. We need occasional breaks from the serious, difficult parts of life. But I would be remiss to ignore what has happened to many of my friends.
We in western Kentucky have just undergone a historic event. For many of us it is life changing. No one will forget the helpless feelings we had as we watched a mile-wide tornado rumble its way through our region. If you were in its path, you couldn’t do anything but get to a safe place and pray. If you were nearby, you fervently prayed and wondered why you were spared.
Almost two years under the heavy weight of the pandemic and now the overwhelming destruction of an epic tornado in our area. How do you respond to that? The Bible tells us to praise God at all times, for all things. How do you praise God for death and turmoil?
These are weighty questions to ponder. And I don’t have an answer that will satisfy everyone, but I do know what I experienced this weekend.
We live about twenty miles away from the path of vast destruction. Early Saturday morning a call went out from our church asking for donations so that we could respond to the affected communities nearby.
So I–along with many others–gathered items of need and met at our church to help organize our relief effort. We spent the day sorting clothes, blankets, unperishable food, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products. As donations came pouring in, we packed up bags to send to our neighbors.
Some members of our church actually went to the community to distribute food and begin to deliver our donations.
Clearly this isn’t an incident that can be fixed in a day, but it was a start. A tiny step, but a step.
What About the Next Day?
This year our church formed a one-time “Christmas Choir” for anyone who wanted to participate. We were supposed to sing Sunday morning, the day after the destruction that rocked our community.
Some people might frown on singing songs of joy and hope, songs of Christmas on the heels of such an event.
Let’s rewind time a few weeks…
My friend Jean hatched the idea of forming a Christmas choir. She believes–and I do too–God inspired the idea. So, she got to work.
Jean and her planning committee started where every good party starts–food!
A group of us got together in our church kitchen and cut out Christmas cookies, which of course had to be iced in Christmas colors. One or two might have been dipped straight into the bowl of icing and consumed before anyone knew what had happened.
Fortunately, Jean had prepared enough cookie dough to produce (at least) two hundred cookies.
On the night of our one and only practice, we gathered at the church to enjoy fellowship and cookies before we tackled singing. (I’ve heard consuming sweets before singing can be dangerous; but, in our case, the cookies just enhanced our spirits!)
We practiced with gusto! And, even though some of us who aren’t normally choir members might have leaned on our more seasoned musicians, we managed to accomplish our goal.
Sunday morning every age from four to eighty-one filled that choir loft to overflowing capacity.
We acknowledged the tragedy and prayed together for those affected. Then we did what I believe God had planned for us to do all along.
We sang.
In the face of a terrible event, one that we couldn’t fix anytime soon, we lifted our voices together to proclaim the truth we have staked our lives on: God is good. God loves us. God will carry His people through the darkest night.
We sang Tapestry of Carols, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, I Have Seen the Light, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Holy Night, and Silent Night.
If you were looking for technical quality, you might have a few notes to give us. But if you were looking for joy, you found it in abundance. The words of the songs, the voices of young and old, the instruments, the transcendent music, and the spirit in the air combined for a precious worship experience.
We still have loss that we grieve. Many of us will grieve for a long, long time. But despite the pain, we still have reason to celebrate Christmas.
To celebrate Jesus.
If you would like to give to the tornado relief effort, you can by donating items of need at our church, 2890 Broadway, Paducah, Ky. 42001 or by donating online at this link: https://pushpay.com/g/fbcpaducah
Under “Fund” you will have the option of designating your gift for the Tornado Relief fund. Every single penny you donate will go to survivors in western Kentucky.
For a list of items that are needed, go to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tracey.d.buchanan/
Betty Housman
Beautifully said!! We listened to the choir last night from a post and it was beautiful. Keep praising God and loving each other!!
Tracey Buchanan
Thanks, Betty! We absolutely will!
Tracey Buchanan
You are so right!!!
Brenda McElroy
You expressed my heart! Thank you!
Tracey Buchanan
❤️❤️❤️
Karen Dodson
One beautiful thing that has come from this devastating event is that this nation still will come together in time of need regardless of race, religion, politics or any other divisive position. Asking and encouraging prayer on all national TV stations is no small thing!!
Cathy Hancock
Beautifully said, so true!!
Tracey Buchanan
Thanks, Cathy!
Sarah
You captured it eloquently! Thank you, Tracey.❤️
Tracey Buchanan
Thank you, Sarah! That means a lot to me. ❤️
Julie Kleet
Well said.
Tracey Buchanan
Thanks Julie! What a blessing!
Linda Hart
Tracey, you captured it perfectly! Every word! In the midst of chaos and heartache and loss, we can still find Joy!
Tracey Buchanan
Thank you so much, Linda! We have to keep looking for joy—it’s there.