Last weekend I spent an hour in the middle of the night crammed in a closet with my wife and three kids. Unbeknownst to us, the two widest tornadoes ever to touchdown in our state were outside ravaging our community.
We woke the next morning to find minimal damage to our property, though still no power. We checked on neighbors and neighbors checked on us. The more we connected with others, the more the extent of devastation came into focus.
Large swaths of our town had been obliterated.
It was Memorial Day Weekend. I had plans with my family. I had things I needed to get done around the house. I was looking forward to checking things off my to-do list and relaxing with friends and family.
My plans would have to change.
Dependability is about making and keeping promises. Some promises are stated. Some don’t have to be; they’re implied. You’ll be there for me, right?You’ll drop what you’re doing when I really need you?
Disasters have a way of snapping the spell of the status quo. Our agendas and routines usually exert a powerful pull on our attention—but not when disaster strikes. We’re shaken awake by the needs of our neighbors. We drop our plans and pick up tools to help each other out.
However, there are invisible storms ravaging the people around us every day. How do we keep our implied promises to care for each other when the damage isn’t so obvious? We discipline ourselves to look, listen, and ask…
- Look up from our own agenda and truly see the people around us
- Listen between the lines for the clues to how they’re really doing
- Ask how they are and what help would look like from their perspective
We all want to be someone others can count on. Natural disasters give us plenty of opportunities to step up, pitch in, and lend a hand. My community is still in the midst of pulling together to heal and recover.
You don’t have to wait for an overt catastrophe to show others you’re trustworthy. Push back on the status quo in your everyday by keeping your eyes up, your ears open, and your heart ready.
For Reflection: Who in your circle do you need to check on today?
