Some of the most Spiritually uplifting stories I've read in recent times are trickling out of the latest hurricane disaster in Florida. The mainstream media is not reporting these stories, in fact they are under reporting the numbers of lives affected by this weather catastrophe. If it weren't for the internet, and one intrepid Soul in particular that calls himself Lawgiver, we wouldn't know anything at all about how the people in these hard struck areas are pulling together and assisting each other.

We wouldn't have heard how people from all over the US are coming with supplies and helping hands to assist in the clean up and the restoration of some semblance of order in the victim's lives. We wouldn't know that some area grocery stores are giving out food and water at no charge to those in need or that local law enforcement is joining hands with the people in these communities to protect the people and property that were affected.

We wouldn't be aware of the lackluster performance of the government agencies in addressing the situation. We wouldn't see that having remote processing centers doesn't help in the day to day survival of those hardest hit by this tragic event when people don't have the means to get around. That Hu-manity has a way of rising to occasion when the going gets rough and that loving-kindness goes a long way in giving us the strength to carry on in tough times.

Many Spiritual Warriors are sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of an upcoming catastrophe for they sense something big in the works. In Truth, it is a personal journey no matter what the circumstances are worldwide. For those people living in the path of Hurricane Charlie, this was as catastrophic as it comes. For the rest of us living in far flung places, it didn't have much impact on our lives. We most likely didn't lose loved ones, homes, or personal possessions in this monster storm and we are shielded from the personal triumphs and tragedies because these stories are not being covered by the mainstream media.

It is only because of the internet that many of us are hearing the inside stories of people helping people. Not because they are being paid to do it, or because they are expecting anything in return, but merely because their hearts are in it. They see suffering and do what they can to assist according to the needs of those who are hurting and I Thank GOD for these kinds of people. Too often our focus is on those people who do harm to others. These are the ones that make the headlines and it causes us to forget that there are more good people in the world than there are bad. Being fed a diet of these frightening stories has caused us to fear each other; to be suspicious of one another.

In fear of those that might do harm, we have locked ourselves and our possessions behind bars and security systems. For fear of lack, we have not come to the aid of those who are in need. For fear of personal involvement we have not offered a helping hand or even a kind word when we see someone suffering. We are all living less than full lives because we have fallen for the story line that everyone is out to get us and that it is a dog eat dog existence out in the world. We have taken the monster under the bed or in the closet story, which only gets bigger the more we feed it, and allowed it to imprison our hearts and Souls. We are not relying on Creator GOD to be our provision as it works in and through the hearts of Hu-mankind. We have forgotten that it is when we live from our hearts that we are most GOD-like.

I just got a call from a church member asking me to put a notice in the bulletin and newsletter asking for donations of food for the local agency that assists people in this community. It seems that the money that they would normally be able to disburse for things such as rent and utilities for those in need is being spent on restocking the food pantry because of donation shortages. She asked that I put out the request for members to bring food to church each Sunday. Every little bit helps.

Here in the church office I often get calls from people who are experiencing hard times and looking for someone to help. Churches used to do this sort of thing within their communities and maybe some still do. In the rough spots, even people who don't attend church, still think of them as a refuge in the storm for they know that GOD/Good people are usually found in these places of sanctuary. It is hard for me to listen to these heart-wrenching stories and have to tell them that my hands are tied and that they must go through this community clearinghouse for help. In most cases they have already tried calling this place but they for some reason haven't met the requirements for qualifying for help.

I don't know what the requirements are and I pray to GOD I never have to find out; for all levels of government handout programs have strings attached. At the very least, we end up on a roster or in some computer system and must give them our life history in exchange for assistance. We are judged on our worthiness to be a recipient of their kindness. From personal experience I can tell you that it is a very humbling experience to beg for help from one of these places and wonder if you are pitiful enough to qualify for their program.

There are of course some people who abuse these systems, and again, these are the ones that we hear about. These are the ones that make it difficult for those people who have temporarily fallen on hard times and just need a hand up or a hand out to get through their personal bump in the road. For catastrophe is always a personal thing. What may not appear to be such a big thing to someone else may be that last straw in our own lives that broke the camel's back.

Without reliance on GOD, it is all too easy to fall into despair when disaster strikes. With Creators reassurance within, we can keep on going even when we can't see anything but the current darkness completely engulfing us. We can be assured that if we put our Trust in GOD to provide, asking for understanding of the situation that we find ourselves in, we will know that it is not hopeless. That what threatens to overwhelm us is just temporary glitch. That we do not have to worry that all is lost just because of the way it looks today.

We don't have the slightest idea of the outcome from one moment to the next. What occurred in our lives yesterday is not going to happen again today or tomorrow. Life is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of opportunities. Even though we sometimes think of our lives as doing the same thing day in and day out the Truth is that it is never exactly the same. That because of the situations and interactions with the people in our lives, every day is new again. The present is a gift.

We are always gifted with another chance to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. To help when we can, to receive help graciously when we are in need, to be a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold. To listen when someone just needs to speak out loud what they are burdened with in their hearts and minds, to provide food and drink when someone is hungry and thirsty, or to laugh with one another when life seems to have lost all of its sweetness.

These are just some of the blessings that we can give and receive on our life journey; what make it all worthwhile and fill our hearts with gladness. Catastrophe strikes in all our lives at some point or another. Life happens and we don't know what we will be faced with from one day to the next. Faith that GOD knows our comings and goings, our strengths and our weaknesses, our talents and our gifts and can use each one of us accordingly is wondrous to me. That we are each and every one of us capable of handling whatever comes when we are walking with Creator GOD who lights our path and dwells within our hearts. Inspiring each of us to Love One Another as we are Loved.