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Fr. Ziliak article, Evansville Courier & Press, Saturday, June
5, 2004
Have you ever noticed how beautiful a full moon shimmering across
the Ohio River can be?
The Ohio was calm the other night, except for the
fairly rapid current of high waters. The moon was full and brilliant
in the darkened night sky. The light rays glanced across the water’s
surface like a spotlight seeking a land target.
By daylight the Ohio is brownish in color due to
the flooding conditions upstream. The current forces the towboat motors
to virtually roar in making progress against the westward flowing
water. Logs and other debris speed downstream to some riverbank accepting
of their self gift.
Ordinary and normal are the judgements of river watchers.
Upstream water always leads to higher levels downstream. Rainfall
and emptying tributaries contribute to heartbreaking overflows into
bottoms lands already planted and green with almost knee high corn.
Those relieved of high water upstream are not concentrating on the
damage that occurs downstream.
Farmers on both ends desire the same good and rich
crops. What may be of benefit to the one may be a detriment to the
other.
Christians celebrated the feast of Pentecost this
past Sunday. Pentecost notes the occasion of the coming of the Holy
Spirit upon the apostles, frightened, discouraged, at prayer behind
locked doors. We read that “suddenly there came from the sky a noise
like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which
they were.” (Acts 2:2)
Sunday evening was not much different for many people
in a portion of Newburgh. The sound wasn’t like a freight train at
my house, but it was an unusual wind sound. I heard the whirling and
thrashing of limbs behind my house, and then a crack or two of limbs.
The alarm from church was activated, so I headed
over there through the worst of the rain. Little did I know what had
happened during those few minutes. After making sure the church was
secure, I noticed that a limb from a cedar tree near the parish office
had split and crashed to the ground. But that was all. In the morning
I noticed a few limbs broken off behind the house, but nothing big.
A vicious swath of devastating wind had made a mess
of a number of places in Newburgh. Three miles long and a hundred
or so yards wide was the estimate of officials. Power saws were whining
from early in the morning on Monday. Streets were blocked off to prevent
potential damage to persons and vehicles. Thousands were without electricity
for varying amounts of time.
Just as the waters seem so peaceful, beautiful and
beneficial to some while harmful, dangerous and ugly to others, so,
too, the winds that show the power of God bring cooling breezes or
damaging fury.
Why does one home have no damage and the next door
neighbor suffer severely? We don’t have comforting answers for each
one. The wind blows where it wills.
Even those areas damaged by the F 2 tornado suffered
more from winds that stayed above ground rather than the total devastation
that comes from tornado winds dipping to the ground.
God speaks to us in various ways – in tempestuous
winds or tiny whispering voices. We give thanks that no personal injuries
resulted here. For those spared the ravages of the tornado, we are
grateful. For those who were afflicted by the winds and are now trying
to re-establish some order and normalcy around their homes, we offer
pledges of prayers. Many neighbors have come forth to extend helping
hands. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you
do unto me,” said the Lord.
We notice and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.
We marvel at the ferocity and danger of nature. We recognize that
we are in the hands of the Lord.
Rev. Joseph L. Ziliak is pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Church in Newburgh.
