On Friday the eighth of December, our team was blessed to have a gentleman who works for the judicial court of New Orleans talk to us. By now, the impact of all that we had seen was beginning to take a toll and many of us were beginning to show signs of wear--sadness, weariness and all the other emotions that accompany the realization of such an enormous tragedy.
But Mike, who was our speaker, was as refreshing as a spring rain. While he had lost all that he had owned and continued to live a FEMA trailer, and while he also was clearly still quite emotional regarding all that he had lived through during the past year, he method of coping with the events of and following Katrina was one of humor. He told us the that he figured that there was little to do but make the best of it and laugh. One could sense, however, that some of his laughter was used to cover pain. More than once, I saw tears on his cheeks, especially when speaking of friends, his home, or his animals.
Mike has family in Dayton, Ohio and that is where he evacuated. What should have been a 14 hour drive became a twenty-six hour drive as it took him 8 hours to go 25 miles as he was leaving the city. He told us that as far north as Kentucky there was "no room at the inn" because all lodging was filled with other Katrina evacuaees. Thus, he had no choice but to continue on for the full 26 hours. He was headed for his sister's home in Dayton, and he told us that when he reached her house, he completely broke down. And yet he laughed!
When he returned to Orleans parish his house was completely demolished and his belongings gone. And yet he laughed.
He was transplanted to Texas for a period of time--no clothes, no personal belongings, no security. And yet he laughed!
I believe that all of us could learn from Mike. Our troubles are so minor compared to what he faced upon his return to his home, yet he didn't whine--he refused to feel sorry for himself. We could all probably learn a healthy lesson of the gift of laughter that Mike demonstrated. God bless you Mike.
Blessings, Mary
No comments:
Post a Comment