I’ve been on a break from writing for Glimsen since mid-summer, but I’m back to offer my condolences to those who are suffering so much loss right now.

As you know, nature has dominated the headlines this past month. Two major hurricanes in a matter of days: Helene and Milton. The devastation from these events is staggering. Helene struck six states in the Southeast and a week later, Milton hit many of those states again.

As news coverage starts to turn toward other matters, I want to remember and honor the broken-hearted left behind.

Nearly three hundred people lost their lives due to Helene alone, leaving behind families and friends who are mourning them. Whole towns in western North Carolina were wiped out. In other areas, people are suffering from the loss of homes, businesses, stores and restaurants, schools, churches, parks, and other community gathering places. Everything familiar.

My husband, Mart, and I are very familiar with western NC, especially Asheville. Years ago, we got to know each other at a C. S. Lewis retreat there. Then, a year later, we honeymooned at the Grove Park Inn. We’ve also attended retreats at Montreat in nearby Black Mountain.

It’s a beautiful area very special to us.

When Mart started his consulting business in 2019, his main client’s headquarters was located in Biltmore Village. Over the next four years, he visited them monthly. He could just about name every brick in Biltmore Village’s sidewalks.

Often accompanying him to Asheville, I would take my laptop to the coffee shop/bakery in the Village and work, often writing Glimsen posts there.

On the morning after Helene swept through, we saw some early photos on the news and could not believe our eyes. Most of the shops and restaurants of Biltmore Village were underwater, the buildings either decimated by winds and rain or ruined by flooding. Our friends’ buildings were uninhabitable, so those first few days, they had to scramble to find a new place to serve as their headquarters, at least temporarily. They lost valuable studio equipment, computers, decades-old archive materials, furniture, employees’ personal items, and much more. Some of their homes were damaged, too.

My heart goes out not only to our friends but to everyone affected by these disasters. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have your home destroyed, your life upended by wind, your things carried off by floodwaters.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose everything.

At the same time, my heart has been encouraged by those who are serving others. Those who’ve answered the call to rescue, to offer hands-on help, to provide food and water and clothes. Those who are carrying other’s burdens and doing what they can to lighten the load for someone else.

When I see the photos of devastation, I don’t know what to say. I don't know why these things happen.

Calm spring sunset just outside Asheville, May 2008 (on an old camera)

But I do know what I can do: pray. I pray for those who are grieving their dear ones, their homes, their wedding photos, family mementos, children’s artwork. Their pets.

I pray for the responders, the rescuers, the heroes. For all the people who are reaching out in some way to offer aid and hands-on help.

And I give. Our family already supports Samaritan’s Purse so we give through them, but there are other worthy relief agencies hard at work in the devastated areas.

In the Bible, God says many times that he hears the prayers of those who love him. I know he does because I've experienced answered prayers.

In this time when my heart aches for those who have lost so much, it would be a privilege for me to pray for people by name.

If you or someone you love has been affected by the hurricanes and flooding, please leave their names in the comments below or email me directly at glimsenblog@gmail.com. I will pray for them specifically.

It's the least I can do—but also? It’s by far the best.

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Photo courtesy of Hanna Bergblau | StockSnap