The Tragedy in Dearborn Heights

It is hard to believe that I can still feel the terror of a year ago. I am  amazed that we escaped the fate of Dearborn Heights. Our whole town was in disbelief over what had taken place just 20 miles away.

It was 10 AM and I was talking with my friend Elizabeth, who attended Dearborn Heights College, when our conversation ended abruptly. Elizabeth, what are you doing? You stopped in the middle of your sentence. All I could hear was silence. Finally, she spoke with a tone I only remembered hearing when we stayed up watching horror movies during spring break. "I can't believe what I am looking at!" she whispered. What do you mean Elizabeth, what's wrong? I was greatly alarmed, because I knew, by the sound of her voice, that something was terribly wrong. "Janice", she replied, "I am looking out of my window at this huge luminous dark cloud rolling down the street." Elizabeth began crying, "People are running trying to escape
knocking on doors to nearby houses, pulling at car doors screaming for help, trying to find some place safe, but no one will open up their doors!"

No one will let them in Elizabeth? I asked in utter terror for her. She continued to describe what she was seeing, " As soon as the cloud reaches them they are swallowed up into the cloud's blackness and all that can be heard is their screams!" Elizabeth sounded so desperate as she continued to cry, "I am afraid Janice, I don't know what's going to happen. I am so afraid!" Then silence, Elizabeth's phone went dead! I tried to call back, but I could no longer get a connection. I panicked. What is going on? How can I help my dear friend? She needs Help!

My hands trembling violently, I called the police. At first, all I heard was a busy signal. I dialed over and over again until finally I reached a voice. Before I could say the name Dearborn Heights, the police officer told me that something terrible was happening in the town. She went on to say that all communication to the city had been lost. Until authorities could determine the nature of the emergency, all entrances into the

city would be blocked. I tried to ask for more information, but the officer ended the call. She had no more information to give me.

It was not until days later did the world learn what had happened in Dearborn Heights. The cloud that my friend Elizabeth saw disappeared as quickly as it came and it took with it many of the towns people that were not in buildings or cars. The sad thing about this event was that most of the people would have been saved if only those who where safe in their homes would have been brave enough to open their doors to let them in.

This is not a true story....yet

Reprint from Volume 28, October 2008 Kingdom Builders Newsletter.

Hurricane Harvey

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Late on August 25, 2017 Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas as a category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds. Texas was hit hard and many counties felt the storm's wrath. It will be many months if not years before Texas recovers fully from the devastation. There are now many homeless individuals and families as homes have been destroyed. Over 40,000 people are in shelters in Texas. The path of Harvey has caused flooding in Louisiana and other states in the US. Many have lost their lives trying to escape the storm as well as those who worked to try to save lives.

Catastrophes sometimes brings out the best in people as each one tries to help another.  Lives are saved and hope restored when people are willing to help.   May God bless us in the months ahead to have uncommon love for one another  as we make life a little easier for those needing hope for their tomorrow.

In the months ahead Christians from every walk of life, every race and denomination will need to put on display and into practice what we have learned from Jesus. LOVE that is selfless, sacrificial and unconditional, love that is not tainted by racism or prejudice, or overshadowed by one's fears. We have an opportunity to show forth
the uncommon love of the Cross.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.