Just a few thoughts....

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. "
Martin Luther King Jr.

It's another beautiful Monday on the Gulf Coast. We're celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by working hard to help all people recover from this storm. But I suppose we do that every day. Okay, I have to work on a special celebration for today. I'll get back to you with that.

After 4 months here, I realize that my perspective has totally changed. Destruction and devastation are part of my normal surroundings. Buildings fall down, windows are blown out, people burst into tears at any moment, houses have mold and blue plastic roofs, and piles of debris live on the side of every road. I'm not as sensitive to the shock of these scenes anymore. I am not as sensitive to the stories people share anymore. That scares me. The devastation and stories are still shocking. This place is not normal.

When I was home for Thanksgiving, I was shocked at the speed, efficiency and fun of the "outside" world. Maybe I need to work a little harder to get to that outside world and refresh my perspective.

But if I've only been here for 4 months and I feel that way, what about all those who lived through the storm?

In an effort to live have some "normal" fun, I spent this weekend hanging out with my GCM team. A bunch of us went out to hear some live music and enjoy a few adult beverages in Ocean Springs on Friday night. Yesterday, we met up with most of our GCM crew in Slidell, LA for lunch and a movie. Lunch was sponsored by my fabulous church friends back in Dickeyville, MD who sent a gift card to Chili's! Thank you!

I suppose, even with all of the crazy going on in this rebuilding process- we've always got food to bring us all back together again.

Mmmmmmm.