Praying during tornado

[LotusMegami]

Last night a tornado tore through Evansville, Indiana. Homes close to my own neighborhood were totaled. The death count is up to 22.

I was alone in my house. I have always been terrified by storms. I sat in the bathtub, trying to remember the Hail Mary, speaking with a certainty that someone was listening.

It's been a long time since I've been certain of that. My prayers are usually addressed "To whom it may concern..." Am I being foolish?

It's not rational. My dad said I was blessed. But why weren't the children who died also blessed?

This has brought out the best in people. Local restaurants set up a cookout, offering free food to anyone. A local radio station donated $10,000 to the Red Cross (earmarked for tornado relief, very important!). Regular people were directing traffic around fallen live wires. My neighbors pulled together and had two huge trees off the road before dawn.

But are we doing it to please God? Are we doing it to gain points for heaven? I walked a mile to check on my best friend, and a mile back to my car, and I wasn't thinking that Jesus would be happy - I was worried about my friend.

What should a god be like? I know I'm drifting a bit, but I think I have an excuse.

A being of the greatest possbile wisdom. All can think is that my parents want me to succeed as much as they have, more than they have, if I can.

But they don't want me to become an Army linguist, because I can't have a long and prosperous life if I get shot.

And 22 people can't learn to appreciate life and be grateful for what they have, because they're dead.

 

[TobiasTheViking]

I would say you are doing it because by helping others, you help yourself.

 

[Just thinking]

There is nothing irrational for anyone in a moment of intense fear of one's life to offer up whatever chance of survival they believe they have. But having said that, it (to me) is no surprise that when devastation strikes there is no distinction in its choosing religious vs. non-religious folk and/or property. In other words, prayer has never been demonstrated (scientifically) to do any good. I am struck by the comments made when people that survive claim that God was responsible for helping them live through the disaster (as they stand in front of their demolished home) while other familiy members (and neighbors) lie dead in the ruins. Wouldn't a caring and powerful God have saved them too? - or at best have diverted the storm in such a way that no human life (and or propery) was in peril? If no distinction can be made to show any supernaturnal intervention why is it that people almost always claim such to have occured? Perhaps this is the question you should ask yourself and others (that survived) and see if they really try to ponder such, or just dismiss it as some rude comment and irgore you. Their response will be quite telling.

 

[Just thinking]

But are we doing it to please God? Are we doing it to gain points for heaven? I walked a mile to check on my best friend, and a mile back to my car, and I wasn't thinking that Jesus would be happy - I was worried about my friend.

Only you know the answer to that question.

I am also very sorry for all those (including yourself) that are suffering as a result of this storm.

 

[Starrman]

But are we doing it to please God? Are we doing it to gain points for heaven? I walked a mile to check on my best friend, and a mile back to my car, and I wasn't thinking that Jesus would be happy - I was worried about my friend..

I would feel sorry for anyone who does good things solely for points to get into heaven. That would be an act of selfishness.

What you did was an act of kindness and concern for a fellow human being. If there is a god that hands out demerits for that, I wouldn't want to meet him. You shouldn't have to be bribed to do good.