The Rev. Stephanie Sellers, Canon for Missional Vitality

Episcopal Diocese of Long Island

 

The spectrum is humbling: For some in Sandy’s path, the storm meant little more than two days off work; for others, days without electricity or heat; for still others, significant damage to their homes, or the loss of their homes. Most tragically, at last count, more than 50 people died Haiti and 70 in the United States.

 

Walking around our neighborhood on Tuesday, people we didn’t know stopped to ask if we fared all right. Telephone calls and emails from friends and family assured us of their prayers and concern. Like many, I have family and friends in New Jersey and New York, and so I’ve been making my share of calls, at one point worried sick when I couldn’t reach my mother. She’s fine—still without electricity, but acutely aware that others nearby fared far worse.

 

It shouldn’t take a natural disaster to remind us of our common humanity, one political pundit observed. But thank God, in her words, “the artificial wall that our political process creates to make us believe that we have no mutual interests was blown away by the massive hurricane.” We are not, in the end, “demographic micro-groups,” but one people. 

 

If you have the means to help others know that they are not alone as they assess the damage, grieve their losses and begin to rebuild their lives, please consider giving to any number of organizations, religious and civic, that are already at work where Sandy hit hard.

 

Episcopal Relief & Development has a bulletin insert for use this Sunday in response to Hurricane Sandy.  

 

You can also find full information on Episcopal Relief & Development's response at:

 

For now, we pray, and rising from our prayers, may we also give, so that others know that we’re here, and that we care.