In reflecting upon Hurricane Katrina, many of us realized that though our lives were devastated there were many positive effects. I can’t count the times I’ve heard from people that Katrina helped them and gave them a new outlook on life. Many admit that Katrina was an eye opener. What’s worse than a Hurricane Katrina? Sin and selfishness.

• Katrina opened my eyes to the needs around me. Sin and selfishness blinds me to the needs around me. Many people realized for the first time that they could help others and that there was joy in helping others.
• Katrina opened my eyes to my need for God. Sin and selfishness blinds me to my need for God. God’s address is at the end of our rope. Katrina brought many Gulf Coast residence to the end of our ropes. Some for the first time. That’s the beginning point for building a healthy relationship with God and others.
• Katrina brought me closer to God & others. Sin and selfishness distances me from God & others. We now know our neighbors and realize that we need them and some of us even realized that we like them!

The good news is that we don’t have to go through a Cat 4 Hurricane to have our eyes opened. We can humble ourselves, come to end of our rope, AND let go and find ourselves close to God, close to others, and making a positive difference on those in need around us. God provided a way for us to know this life through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18). He suffered for us (1 Peter 2:24), taking our pain and guilt and death. My eyes have been opened as I’ve looked to Him (2 Corinthians 4:6).