Linda Johnson, Associate Pastor

With the approach of May, I am reminded of two significant occasions that are not unrelated, though they may seem so at first. They are the May 2010 flood and Memorial Day.

As we draw closer to May 1, memories of last year come flooding in, so to speak. Some of us will approach this anniversary with memories of curiosity and some anxiety as we watched the rain continue to fall in unprecedented duration. We will remember watching with astonishment the images on television of flooded neighborhoods, interstate highways, downtown Nashville, and the magnificent Schermerhorn Symphony Center! Others of us, however, will remember the horror, the disbelief and panic as peoplewatched water rise with devastating swiftness into their homes and businesses and watched cars and belongings wash away. I hope we will all remember something else, and that is how people immediately responded with offers of help, neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping whoever needed help.

Belmont UMC itself suffered damage on that Sunday morning. Instead of holding the 10:30 worship service, staff and attendees packed up books from Anderson Library and rescued as much equipment as possible from Parker Hall.Several Belmonters suffered damage, from complete flooding and evacuation to basement flooding with scary black-out escapes including Vietnam flashbacks, to a mudslide bringing a whole hillside of trees crashing onto the house, and various other levels of destruction and disruption.

Belmonters reacted quickly to the known needs from the first notice through days of cleanup and recovery. The Covenant Sunday school class had more than its share of flood victims, and they packed up belongings, washed clothes, hauled debris, provided food and shelter and loving concern. Even now we are helping to rebuild. Two Sunday school classes had a workday at the home of the mudslide for painting just this past Saturday. Many Belmonters contributed money and gift cards to be distributed by a Flood Committee. Instead of gifts for her birthday, one little girl asked for gift cards for flood victims. Those who received gifts and assistance were overwhelmed with gratitude, not only by the financial help, but by the prayers and attention of their church. Thank you cards came to the church, and I’d like to share some of their sentiments with you.

“Dear friends at Belmont, I was moping around the house, wondering how I was ever going to finish moving and cleaning, when I got your gift! Thank you so much. It was much needed; but more than that, it reminded me of my Belmont family. It motivated me to get back to work with a smile, and that’s what I needed most of all.”
“Dear Belmont Friends, thank you so very much for your generosity. The money really kept me out of a hole. Belmont is my second home. It is such a loving family.”    

“Dear Friends, your check for flood recovery is an overwhelming expression of love and compassion during this difficult time. In retrospect, your support is not unusual because of love, caring, and compassion for all persons. We cannot adequately express our appreciation and thanks in words. Our hearts are full. You are truly living examples of the teachings and love of our Lord. We are blessed to be a part of this great church.”

A few days after the flood my next- door neighbor said, “We need to look after each other. We need to be a community.” And I thought, “That’s what my church tries to do as best it can and in its own way.” In his book, Can You Drink This Cup? Henri Nouwen says, “Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other in a gesture of hope. In community we say: ‘Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs—but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.’”

And the Memorial Day connection to the flood story? To be continued...