Emotions

I just got finshed writing my articles for the paper this week. Every Tuesday, the County Board of Supervisors convene in the Orange City Court House. I, a member of the press -oh boy - get to sit in on these meetings.

Now, honestly, I figured I'd be watching the clock behind me, waiting for adjournment. However, I am absolutely intriqued! I could've cared less about my government classes in high school, so needless to say, I didn't learn much. But, my perspective if being broadened by the day with this stuff.

This past Tuesday, I experienced a gament of emotions. The board's discusions for the next month or so will focuse on the proposed budget of the county. I have a copy of that budget - all ninety pages of it. With figures of salaries I can only dream of. Then, there's 'general basic', 'non-departmental', and a whole lot of other stuff I've got no clue about. I guess everyone's trying their best to keep costs down this year, which is good.

After some goood budget discussion, the board recieved budget requests from non-profit organnizations in Sioux County. Tuesday, the directors from Family Crisis Center and the Greater Sioux Community Health Center both requested $10,000. I was struck by their words, "we are seeing more and more people all the time."

Then, Haiti. One of my friends was scheduled to fly to Haiti this past Monday. But, because she contracted Hepititas during her last trip there, in November - nearly needing a liver transplant - she did not go. The little boy she and her husband plan to adopt -1 of 800,000 orphans she said- is ok.

I can't even imagine. I've been trying to reason - I know, here I go again - why this happened. To a country like Haiti.

I just got finished with a book, "Traveling Light." Lucado reminded me that God doesn't send evil our way. Actually, He holds it back most of the time, allowing it to rear its ugliness only at appointented times. That's the only way my mind can even begin to understand such devastation.

But, still, I'm not so happy with that - I've always pushed the limits. Why Haiti? Why such extreme devestation?

Finally, tonight, one of our pastors preached on John 8 tonight. I'm going to completly put this in simple terms, because I'm no preacher... Basically, Jesus was rebuking the Jews because they didn't believe he was the Christ. The sermon was on our belief in Jesus as God's Son; the Savior. And how nothing but that belief in Jesus as the Savior will save us. NOTHING. nothing

And to know I'm safe for eternity. Because of grace.

I can barely imagine that, either...