Journey Forward

Hope. A word can have meaning beyond what other words can try to describe and be defined through different exeriences in many ways.Tim’s hope came through a challenge, when the unexpected swept through his hometown and took his home and neighborhood with it in a matter of minutes. The sound of sirens, then silence, then ten dozen freight trains shook his life up, but did not bring him down. Tim’s hope shone on the faces of the people around him, unburying themselves from the debris of splintered wood, insulation and memories in the form of materialistic objects collected over time. Tim’s hope came through the tears of his family members as they hugged each other and thanked God they were alive. Tim’s hope grew while he told his story of hope to the volunteers he met coming through town, cleaning up the mess, and rebuilding. Each volunteer received a gift, the doorway to see hope as it overcame adversity and spread through a town whose walls of courage and love could not be destroyed despite the collapsed walls of houses and buildings. Just because the disaster struck, does not mean fear was victorious. Another lesson as a volunteer became prevalent; compassion is a gift not a weakness. Spread the love of togetherness, not the tragedy. When hope triumphs, faith and community are born in its wake. A pattern of positivity flows through hope. My travels blessed me with the opportunity to meet Tim and observe people as they banded together during a tragic time. My little white toyota and I drove 900 miles with a heart full of hope. Could I, a young woman of 27 years who often lets her voice be drowned out by others, make a difference? The answer was clear. I was welcomed with open arms into the wrecked town of Joplin, MO where I explored my passion for travelling, writing, and helping other people in a hot, summer week of the year 2011. The road, tiresome and beautiful, sunrises and sunsets of different shades in each state left me in a state of bliss. I have hope.