If human hearts are often tender,
And human minds can pity know,
If human love is touched with splendor,
And human hands compassion show.
Then how much more shall God our Father
In love forgive, in love forgive!
Then how much more shall God our Father
Our wants supply, and none deny!
—John Gowans
The Psalmist has written, "I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart...." (Psalm 27:13–14, NIV)
This bold assertion of David calls to mind the time, some years ago, when we were caught in the rage of Hurricane Hugo, with its constant, merciless winds and rain pounding down upon our roof in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
As the storm raged on, I began to panic. With my new, unwelcome companions, distress and fear, I urged my family to move from room to room until we found four windowless walls that might hold up for the hours of battering yet to come. But when I could not take it another moment, I bravely rushed to a small back room. Ever so gently, I cranked the shutter open and dared to look out at the monster.
Chaos rained down. Tall, once-elegant, sleek palm trees bent low to the ground, their silky branches looking like frantic strands of hair toppling from bobbing, dizzy heads. Fruit flew through the air. Pretty porch awnings, ripped into shreds, had become like ugly, tattered pirate-ship banners.
As I began to back away from the window, my eyes heavy with doubt and fear, I saw something—a small bird scurrying for refuge in a thick bush. It had found safety from the howling winds. How smart!
I had been ready to faint, but then I saw the goodness of God. And courage came. I thought of that wonderful old song of the Church: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."
Jesus gives us hope in the storm, in the cleanup from the storm, and in relocation and reconstruction. In Matthew, Chapter 6, Jesus offers reassurance that if God cares for the smallest bird, how much more must He care for us? We, too, are reminded of the "how much more" of the Father; He knows and responds to our plight.
Bad as it was, Hugo was not Katrina. Yet today, we see the goodness of God once again. From the destruction, from terrible injustice, from pain and misery, from hearts crying, "we perish," God builds His Kingdom. He cares. He loves. We see the goodness of God through and in the thousands of acts of kindness and caring and supply from people all across this great nation.
The cover story in this issue of Priority! brings you just a few stories of people whose hearts have been encouraged and lives changed by God's goodness. When I see how fragile life really is, how easily all our resources can be taken, how bad it is to live with an "every-man-for-himself" attitude, I cherish even more the words of that famous 23rd psalm: "...surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..." I want to be able to glance behind me and always see goodness and mercy following me, don't you?
The goodness of God is not just visible following hurricanes. God works through His people as they demonstrate His goodness. Our young people are leading the way; I see youth standing against all that is wrong and demonstrating a willingness, even eagerness, to fight for goodness and mercy, truth and rightness, in this uncertain, weary world. It's a great thing! It renews my confidence. I see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Take heart!
Commissioner Nancy A. Moretz
Territorial President of Women's Ministries
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