The Strength to Persevere

We drove down to Atkins, Arkansas this weekend, to help friends with clean-up after a devastating tornado hit the area on Super Tuesday, February 5th. Aside from getting a bit lost, and almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, we eventually made it down to their house.

Driving in to Atkins as we did, from the northwest, you don't really see much in the way of damage. Twice now we've lived through tornadoes, once when we lived in Vilonia, Arkansas and once when we lived in Morrilton, Arkansas - and both times, it was pretty obvious that a tornado had barrelled through. So, we were a bit surprised at how normal everything looked in town -- until we turned onto our friends' street - and the true extent of the devastation became clear.

Several homes were completely and utterly gone - only concrete foundations remained at one house - twisted vehicles and trailers, and huge oak trees pulled out of the ground and tossed around like pick-up sticks - and every inch of ground covered by the remnants of lives torn apart: pictures, pots, papers, insulations, fencing, pet bowls - all just strewn about.

Utter devastation - it just took your breath away.

Then we pulled into their driveway with our trailer in tow and what do we see? Friends and neighbors, hauling tree limbs, raking up debris, laughing and joking and finding a way to persevere through it all. I don't think I've ever been so proud to call myself a member of community before - to see all of these folks who had driven hours from their homes across the state to come and help out - and bring smiles and hugs, laughter and support. Our friends' house was literally raised off its foundations several times; their bedroom was pretty much obliterated, and their vehicles took a whale of a beating. But they managed to smile and laugh, joke and hug with all of us, even through all of this. Their strength was truly inspirational.

The one tearful part of the afternoon was related to the Grandmother Tree - this beautiful cedar had graced their garden and kept the house safe, and it now lay resting on the ground where it had fallen. We were honored to be asked to take this very special tree and to bring its remains to Pyrth Annwn to become part of the opening revel fire for our next Weekend in May, but as the chainsaws began to bring her to a more manageable size, the tears did flow. It was decided that her base would remain as an altar in our memory garden, so that a part of her would always be in sacred space.

I look forward to next weekend when we can place her there, and decorate her appropriately, for she stands not only for our friends, but for all those who stand up to adversity, and she stands for the love and support of community through thick and thin.