By now my husband and our youngest have made it down to near Biloxi, MS for a mission trip to rebuild houses flooded or destroyed by Katrina. This will be my youngest daughter's second trip in as many weeks.
In June, she went with our church's youth group - a group of 35 youth and adults to New Orleans. There each day they donned suits, helmets, gloves and HEPA masks while they hauled out the evidence of what was once the lives of residents. They tore down walls, stripping theses homes to their studs. With many hands, the job was fast. Blessedly - for both the homeowners and the work teams.
I've always been a believer in getting dirty work done quickly. No laboring over the pain of the job.
I call it the band-aid approach. Rip the damn thing off in a sweeping and swift motion and move on. Why peel it off a quarter inch at a time - or rather a hair or two at a time - languishing in the agony of the pain?
For the homeowner, it must be easier this way. There is no time to inspect each piece of furniture lost, each book or album ruined, clothing and teddy bears, all irrevocably damaged. Removal of the sodden, moldy effects then allows the homeowner to move on to hope.
Becca told stories and showed pictures. So many of them about tearful, but grateful people trying to rebuild. So many looking for evidence of a brighter day and finding it in these youngesters full of energy and compassion. Thankful for the help - amazingly not bitter at their loss.
Becca would make missions her life work if she could. She's talked about going to far away places. She routinely brings me pictures of guant despairing faces in the foreground of utter poverty or destruction.
She volunteers regularly for trips offered through our church. These experiences affect her deeply. They break her and transform her soul. She refuses new clothes, the latest latte flavor, eschewing typical teenage interests and pursuits.
She has great love in her heart for those in need and determined to live her life pleasing to God.
I'm proud of her and compelled to examine my own life. It's just my opinion, but I think greatness of mind and gentleness of heart is neither a matter of nurture nor nature, but rather of some force outside both of those - something cosmic and spiritual that none of us will understand in this life.
There is still much to be done on the Gulf Coast. Thankfully, there are youngsters like Becca. Any parent would be proud of her and pleased with her work. Brava to her!
Nan, that is a lovely story. You have every reason to be proud.