The world changed for a lot of Oklahomans this past Monday.
The tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma has been devastating to the state I have
grown to love. Monday was scary, a
tornado hit Norman last May and left minimal damage. This tornado was the worst
one I’ve come closest to.
2:00 pm
I knew bad weather was headed our way, after awaking from a
nap, I decided to turn on the television and devise a game plan if tornado
related activity arrived in Norman. The weather was looking bad so I headed
over to my bible study leader’s house, who recently put in a storm shelter.
When I arrived, the news revealed a tornado was not headed towards Norman but
straight towards the town nine miles
away from us.
4:00 pm
After loosing cable, Internet, and cell phone service, I was
unaware of what had just happened to the small town outside of Norman. My
leader was on the phone with her husband who works in Moore and he said one
sentence that left me with a sick feeling in my stomach; “everything is leveled, everything is gone.”
6:00 pm
After I learned the storms were passed, I was still without
cable and Internet. One of my young life girls graciously let me come over. I
was able to use her WIFI and watch the tornado coverage. The damage I saw, I
feared the worst. Oklahomans were going to be found dead, kids were going to be
found dead. The town of Moore, 10 minutes away was unrecognizable.
The Oklahoma Standard
After great tragedy, a greater amount of hope always seems
to arise. Tragedy has been a recurring theme in our world with past events in
Newtown, Boston, and now Moore. When breaking news occurs, I religiously watch
CNN. CNN always manages to show the tragedy unfold, while exuberating the good
that arises from it. I never thought I would be watching news coverage from my state,
news coverage that was literally taking place down the road.
I can honestly say after witnessing what happened to Moore,
Oklahoma I have never had a greater amount of faith in my generation and in our
world. Less than 24 hours after the tornado, the University of Oklahoma began
collecting donations for the Moore residents who would soon be moving into the
dorms. Wal-Mart was crowded as usual, but not with people buying things for
themselves, but buying supplies for others. Social media was used selflessly as
peopled shared information about how to volunteer and where to take donations. My faith in my generation was restored.
I am from Texas. I have always grown up to people telling
each other how friendly Texans are and nobody comes together like Texans. People
talk about how great Texas is and while I will always love it back home, Oklahoma has become my home. Oklahomans
are resilient people. Oklahomans are not selfish. Oklahomans do not boast about
what they have or do not have. Oklahomans do not complain. Oklahomans are damn
inspiring and I am proud to be one. There is a saying, “I’ve never been to
heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma.” After this week of loss, grief, and tragedy;
the hope and faith Oklahomans have shown makes me unbelievably proud to live in
the state. Great people live in Oklahoma. People that make you want to be
better, to live more, to give more, to love and enjoy life more. Never in my
life have I physically seen a greater amount of people openly have faith in God that
He is going to pull us through. That kind of faith even in the darkest light is
what makes Oklahomans resilient. That kind of faith is why Moore, Oklahoma is
going to rebuild and be transformed into an even greater community. The kind of
faith that was exhibited this week by Oklahomans is LIFE ALTERING. If you have
not lived in Oklahoma or become friends with an Oklahoman, you’re missing out
on life altering experiences and people.
There is a reason the phrase, “OKLAHOMA STRONG” has emerged.
Oklahomans are the strongest people you will ever meet. I love you Oklahoma.
Thank you Oklahoma, for taking me in and showing me what it is like to be an Oklahoman and how life changing becoming an Oklahoman has been.
