As someone who lives in Asheville, I am so grateful for your words here, Amanda...I shared with some friends last week the tension I've been experiencing as I've watched the news coverage of the fires in CA. On one hand, after weathering Helene, I've felt a much deeper sense of compassion for those affected by the fires, those whose inner and outer worlds went up in flames overnight...much like those along the banks of the Swannanoa, the French Broad, the Toe, and the Pigeon. I also quietly say, "What about Southern Appalachia? Look how we've already been forgotten," which I've felt ashamed of...But as I've sat with that feeling a bit more, I've realized that for me these thoughts expose a feeling of being forgotten and unseen that reside several layers below the surface of the fires and the floods, that pre-existed these latest horrific natural disasters. The question is, What do I do with these feelings now that they've been uprooted? Do I hold them up to the God of endless love and allow myself to be held in God's delight in me? Or do I allow my deeper wounds to fuel the widespread conviction that compassion, grace, and mercy are on short supply? Thanks again, Amanda! And thank you for entertaining my verbal processing here :)
Howdy, NC neighbor! This is so complex right? I didn't dive into this as much in this post, but the fear of being overlooked is (in my opinion) an ancestral pain point in Appalachia...rooted in historic events. It is SO, SO real. .....AND also, I'm making an effort to remember those early days, when relief poured in from all over the country. It was incredible. But this is the reality of disasters, right? You can receive so much love and help and compassion. And it still doesn't feel like enough because the need is massive. I love what you said about holding those complex feelings before God...the thankfulness, the resentment, the longing to be seen, the gratefulness to be seen...What is God doing with all those feelings and how might God's presence transform them?
Howdy, Howdy! :) I drove through Spruce Pine for the first time since the storm a couple of weeks ago on the way to Valle Crucis...I'm so sorry...Like you said, it's all so complex...so many different emotions to honor and wade through. And you're right; it's easy to forget the relief efforts...the linemen from Quebec, first responders from Louisiana and New Jersey, privately-owned helicopters rescuing folks who were trapped and delivering food and supplies to those who couldn't get out, neighbors sharing meals, fuel, a shoulder...It was the Kingdom amidst the suffering, unlike anything I have experienced...Many blessings to you!
As they say...it was the best of times and the worst of times.
I'm up in Boone which wasn't hit quite as bad as Spruce Pine and further south. It was pretty cool to see Boone become a bonafide human hub for all the supplies coming in!
Amanda how can I help? It’s hard to know what organizations are actually on the ground doing the work. Do you have any you recommend for donations for Helene recovery?
Beautiful, convicting, and helpful. I think one of my biggest temptations is to believe in scarcity. I refuse again and again. But it's always there taunting me.
Thanks Linda! My home and family are safe and undamaged...we were very fortunate. There are still many neighborhoods and hollers (along waterways) that are devastated. Infrastructure repair has been phenomenal, but housing is the hardest part right now. At least 70,000 in the state had homes damaged or destroyed. Lots of people living in mold infested homes now, homes with holes in the roof, or living in campers.
This is a beautiful and timely essay. We need more of this. Thank you. 🙏🏼
Thank you, Amanda.
great words amanda.
SO good. Thank you.
As someone who lives in Asheville, I am so grateful for your words here, Amanda...I shared with some friends last week the tension I've been experiencing as I've watched the news coverage of the fires in CA. On one hand, after weathering Helene, I've felt a much deeper sense of compassion for those affected by the fires, those whose inner and outer worlds went up in flames overnight...much like those along the banks of the Swannanoa, the French Broad, the Toe, and the Pigeon. I also quietly say, "What about Southern Appalachia? Look how we've already been forgotten," which I've felt ashamed of...But as I've sat with that feeling a bit more, I've realized that for me these thoughts expose a feeling of being forgotten and unseen that reside several layers below the surface of the fires and the floods, that pre-existed these latest horrific natural disasters. The question is, What do I do with these feelings now that they've been uprooted? Do I hold them up to the God of endless love and allow myself to be held in God's delight in me? Or do I allow my deeper wounds to fuel the widespread conviction that compassion, grace, and mercy are on short supply? Thanks again, Amanda! And thank you for entertaining my verbal processing here :)
Howdy, NC neighbor! This is so complex right? I didn't dive into this as much in this post, but the fear of being overlooked is (in my opinion) an ancestral pain point in Appalachia...rooted in historic events. It is SO, SO real. .....AND also, I'm making an effort to remember those early days, when relief poured in from all over the country. It was incredible. But this is the reality of disasters, right? You can receive so much love and help and compassion. And it still doesn't feel like enough because the need is massive. I love what you said about holding those complex feelings before God...the thankfulness, the resentment, the longing to be seen, the gratefulness to be seen...What is God doing with all those feelings and how might God's presence transform them?
Howdy, Howdy! :) I drove through Spruce Pine for the first time since the storm a couple of weeks ago on the way to Valle Crucis...I'm so sorry...Like you said, it's all so complex...so many different emotions to honor and wade through. And you're right; it's easy to forget the relief efforts...the linemen from Quebec, first responders from Louisiana and New Jersey, privately-owned helicopters rescuing folks who were trapped and delivering food and supplies to those who couldn't get out, neighbors sharing meals, fuel, a shoulder...It was the Kingdom amidst the suffering, unlike anything I have experienced...Many blessings to you!
As they say...it was the best of times and the worst of times.
I'm up in Boone which wasn't hit quite as bad as Spruce Pine and further south. It was pretty cool to see Boone become a bonafide human hub for all the supplies coming in!
“The Kingdom amidst the suffering”….sounds like Jesus to me. 💜
Amen! Always grateful for your perspective, Amanda.
Amanda how can I help? It’s hard to know what organizations are actually on the ground doing the work. Do you have any you recommend for donations for Helene recovery?
Beloved Asheville and World Central Kitchen have been phenomenal!
“Choose compassion as a default.” So profound. Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso) encourages us to “do the next right thing.” Simple but powerful.
As always, thank you for your wisdom and grace.
Yes, the next right thing is a powerful concept.
Beautiful, convicting, and helpful. I think one of my biggest temptations is to believe in scarcity. I refuse again and again. But it's always there taunting me.
SAME.
Amanda, this is such an important reminder on so many levels. How are you and your community doing with your own recovery?
Thanks Linda! My home and family are safe and undamaged...we were very fortunate. There are still many neighborhoods and hollers (along waterways) that are devastated. Infrastructure repair has been phenomenal, but housing is the hardest part right now. At least 70,000 in the state had homes damaged or destroyed. Lots of people living in mold infested homes now, homes with holes in the roof, or living in campers.
I am so very sorry ... you're so right, trauma doesn't end at the end of a news cycle, does it. And we all seem to have very short attention spans.