Chaos of the Everyday
By Hannah Rodgers
It seems as if every time I turn on the news or open up social media there is another tragedy looming. Hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, shootings, the opiate epidemic, and even cyber attacks are plaguing the world. Each one of those disasters, man-made or natural, causes complete upheaval in thousands, if not millions, of lives.
Those disasters cause people to lose their homes, jobs, loved ones, savings, their sense of security, and even their lives. The effects are most often felt long, long after the media trucks have driven away and the public eye has moved on to the next tragedy. The chaos and needs, unfortunately, do not disappear with the reporters and news crews. In Northeast Ohio it seems to us that these disasters are far away. After all, a hurricane didn’t rip through our neighborhood and no one killed and injured hundreds of people at a concert in our hometown. Praise God that those things did not happen here, but don’t fall into thinking that pain is not in our back yard.
Imagine the pain of losing your home or all of your savings. Imagine having nowhere to turn for work and not enough money to feed your family. Imagine the chaos and stress that would cloud every decision if your constant worry was where the next meal for your family will come from or if you will be able to find a safe, warm place for them to sleep.
Men, women and children come to Haven of Rest each day that feel pain, loss, and strife. It may not always make it on the front page of the paper, but it is all over the faces of people as they come for meals, clothing, shelter, and other programs. By the grace of God, Haven of Rest is here to respond to immediate needs, giving people a chance to plan for their future and take part in the Mission’s Career Development, Education, Social Enterprise, and Discipleship programming.
As you remember and pray for people affected by the disasters raging in our world, don’t forget to pray for the devastated lives of our neighbors in Akron, Canton, and the surrounding communities. Through the chaos, may the Lord bring peace and healing that passes all understanding.
