saints among us

I called my friend down da bayou in lower Terrebonne parish, to see how they're doing re Hurricane Gustav. It looks like Terrebonne parish is dead center in the crosshairs of the storm.

"We're ok," he said. "We're making preparations and will evacuate in a day or two. If it's a category 3 it will do a lot of damage. It might destroy the house. And there'll be a lot of water in Houma. But the worst thing would be if it turns left and runs all the way down the coast. Then it would take everything for miles and miles. I'm not going to pray that it goes somewhere else. I wouldn't ask that it happen to someone else."

By this point, I'm crying. This great spirit, facing a terrible storm that might destroy his home, his village, his way of life, the whole city of Houma, will pray but will not ask to be spared -- at someone else's expense.

In another call, my friend "Elsie" said, "If I don't make it, I'll see you on the other side." As matter of fact as one can get.

There is a nobility, a courage and beauty of spirit among these simple, good people that humbles us all, that puts it all in perspective, that displays for all who wish to notice a wealth of the heart that few of us will know. Or maybe it's there in at least some of us, but rarely displayed -- which is as it should be.

But I, for one, know I have a long, long ways to go. And I know I've stood on holy ground in their presence.

Peace, Warren