the broken heroes

I think of all of the stories I heard the story of the broken heroes will be with me the longest. During the hurricane, many people stayed behind. Some should have left some were told to stay. After the hurricane the waters raised and raised and raised. Rudy watched as the water raised 15 feet and had to put his children in the attic to keep them out of the water. His wife was stuck on an armour. He stayed and waded in the water. As he was left in this predicament he thought about his neighbors. He swam across to his neighbors house. He stood on the roof and could hear his neighbors who were in their 90s knock in desperation. At that point, he had no way to get into the house because he had no tools. He looked up and prayed to God please send me help. At that point he saw a 2X4 floating his way. He reached and grabbed it and then proceeded to break the ventilator off his neighbors roof. By the time the ventilator was off, all Rudy could see was hands as his neighbors gasped for breath. He pulled them out and saved their lives that day. In fact, Rudy saved a lot of people that day.

What was his reward? Sickness. Later he found out that the bacteria and parasites in the water got him sick and he lost a lot of energy. He not only lost energy but lost the feeling in his body from his neck down. It took two weeks for him to walk again but during this time his wife exhausted from the process started to lose her teeth. Rudy is not the only one to suffer. Some people have had it worse. Some had parasites so bad that the only choice was castration. Some have been affected in their brains. Some are no longer with us because the pain has driven them to take their own lives.

To think I had the honor of helping someone who saved lives. I have never felt more humbled in my life than to see what has happened to them. They fought for others to save peoples lives and now in their moment of need we turn our heads. We don't listen to their stories much less pick up a hammer to rebuild. I came to New Orleans thinking why don't they just move. I left New Orleans wanting to move their to help and be with the heroes that gave everything to save others. Nothing will break you heart more nothing will humble you like a person who has given everything only to lose it all. I pray that these families will experience a better life once the rebuild is finished.

I found comfort in reading Isaiah 61:

61 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, S. Is 61:1-4