Soaked but Not Sunk

I have witnessed a lot of strange things in my life: a complete double rainbow, a giant troll under a bridge in Seattle, and Iowa's Dallas Clark catching a last second pass to beat the Boilermakers, but none of them compare to what my eyes saw Friday.

I stood in complete amazement as 250 people showed up for a free picnic with smiles on their faces in an absolute downpour. That's how bad our city needed this event. Family after family streamed in through the rain with enthusiasm and determination that has sustained our city for 365 days since flood waters took so many of their businesses and homes.

The day started rather promising. Massive crowds began arriving under cloudy skies a half hour before our event! A week early, our team knocked on 1,000 doors in the neighborhood; nearly everyone we talked to said they would come for free food. KCRG-TV9 Meteorlogist Joe Winters went live from our cookout at 5 and 6. All the pieces were in place for a massive turnout! And then, much like one year ago, Mother Nature had something to say about it.

All of our good-natured volunteers from First Lutheran, Oakhill Jackson, and Family of Faith all teased Joe as the rain came harder and harder. Joe gave us all a hearty laugh when he shot back, "When you all said grace, I didn't hear anyone praying for no rain!!" I told Joe, "If anyone has problems with the weather, they should talk to our boss!" Joe smiled and knew what I meant. God is in control of the weather, Joe just reports it (and does a fine job too).

I am just as convinced that God didn't pour rain on our picnic to "get back at us," as I am convinced that God didn't flood our city one year ago today to repay our sins. That task was handled in full 2,000 years ago by Jesus Christ. Recall the story of Noah and the flood. When the rain ended, God set his rainbow in the sky and proclaimed, "Never again! Never again will I forsake my people." And so we take God at His word. I believe God loves us so much that He will always deliver us from our trouble and despair, even now. He is using you and I to rebuild a great city in Cedar Rapids. We saw it time and time again on Friday.

Four brave souls soaked to the bone (Andy, Tom, Dave, and Al) kept flipping burgers all night without any cover over their heads. The women serving the food never complained. Our band and facepainters got washed out, but enjoyed some free food. Some of the seats around them may have been empty, but the conversations were full. A homeless gentlemen told me a story of helping move a woman from evacuated Mercy Hospital to St. Luke's just in time to deliver twins! Another couple told me and I reminced about not being able to flush the toliet or shower for a week. It was a night full of hope.

The event's overall coordinator told me today that our Bever site had 500 people; Noelridge saw 600. Altogether we had over 3,000 people at 11 sites. Had the weather been nice, he said all of us would have run out of food. But that wasn't the case. And so maybe that's how God would have it - a tangible reminder that water can not overcome us and that ultimately water is a good thing. Andy Meyer looked at each other at the end of the day and just smiled. I said, "Well, it was memorable, Andy." He replied, "I wouldn't have it any other way." Neither would I.