Last September Ryan and Linda Burke moved to Shandaken, NY to help the residents pick up their lives in the wake of Hurricane Irene's destruction. Here are some of their reflections.

The crater was four feet deep and ten feet across, spanning the width of the narrow country road which led up the hollow. It was one of the numerous sinkholes left in the wake of hurricane Irene, blocking the residents of Shandaken, NY from leaving and help from coming. At first no one took any notice of it. The devastation was too immense as far as the eye could see. However, as the days wore on the crater remained like a natural road block, and the residents grew anxious.

Trapped behind the crater, neighbors gathered together in one house and shared what they had. One person brought food, another towels. Each did what they could amidst the uncertainty of what would happen next. One older man was concerned about friends on the other roads and insisted on drawing a map with each house and who lived there. Later this map was used by the police and others to provide help to those people.

After the water subsided enough, someone had an idea: "Why don't we fill that hole with rocks by hand instead of waiting for the large machinery – which may take weeks?" Summoning his neighbors, he started throwing rocks into the crater. Even the eighty-year-old man from the end of the road came down to help. With one rock at a time, the crater was filled, and cars and SUV's started moving. Once again life pulsed up and down the hollow.

It was only a few months ago that hurricane Irene pounded up the eastern coast of the United States. The storm pummeled towns across the state of New York, leaving a trail of destruction not seen in this area in our lifetimes. Close behind followed tropical storm Lee, which only made a seemingly impossible situation even worse.

After Hurricane Irene, Shandaken was barely recognizable. Bridges were missing, roads were closed, trees were down, houses were washed away, tipped over, or collapsed, and mud was everywhere – everywhere! The residents there were understandably devastated, even to the point of despair. All they could see was a wasteland.

And yet, despite the destruction and shock, something much greater and more important happened among the people. Just like those helping to fill the crater, residents banded together and offered whatever help they could, doing one small thing at a time. They realized, as never before, how much they needed one another, even to the point of risking their lives to rescue those on the verge of death, and bringing food, medicine, and other necessary supplies to those in need. They simply did what Jesus taught all of us: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

In driving through Shandaken today, one cannot help but see the progress that has been made. Streams are getting cleaned up, roads are being fixed, and bridges are getting replaced. The progress is slow, but it is no less amazing.

But even more amazing are the stories my wife and I have heard, stories of courage and love and of unbelievable hospitality. We've experienced first-hand the power of what happens when people open their hearts and homes in an effort to lend a helping hand. We've met people in dire need who are nevertheless more concerned about others than about themselves, people who call volunteers "angels," and people left with nothing, who spend their time thanking others instead of complaining about their lot.

Hurricane Irene was terrible. But Irene has inspired more deeds of love and courage than my wife and I had ever imagined possible. We came to lend a hand, but in return we've come to know what it really means to love your neighbor.

As this year comes to an end and we begin another, we are more determined than ever to do what the residents of Shandaken are doing: to throw whatever rocks of hope we can into the craters of need we meet, even if it is only one rock at a time. In this world of ours there is so much work to be done. May all of us do our small part.

 

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Responses

I will begin by extending my sincere heart felt sympathy to all the residents of Shandaken for the terrible damage Hurricane Irene caused. I also want to thank every one who offered what they could to come to their rescue including Ryan and Linda Burke and the entire remaining community of Shandaken for the courage and love and for the unbelievable hospitality they offered to each other not considering the damage and loses they incurred, indeed fulfilling the scripture which says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  As a person who was born and grew up in Uganda, a country which has undergone so many wars since 1964, I know what pain, damage, loses, death means, but what I have to say is that, at times such situations bring us closer to God, teach us to intercede, unite us, and teach us to lend a helping hand and to share. God is faithful, with prayer and supplication God helped Uganda, he dealt with all war mongers, He opened up the door for the gospel in Uganda, peace and reconciliation has been preached across the country and as we talk now, Uganda has had relative peace and economic progress since 1986 to date. So I want to encourage all our brothers and sisters who have been affected by storms across the world, not to worry, the Lord is faithful, He will replace all your loses seven fold; just don't lose trust in Him. He is the one who laid the foundation of the earth. He is the one who drew a circle in the ocean to form a dry land, He is the one who created us from nothing to something, from dust to human beings. After doing all that out of love, there is no way he can abandon us and fail to take care of us. So lets take heart and believe the Lord. Amen!

Michael Ssebbaale
Kampala, Uganda

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Well written article by two devoted young people I just met while they were serving the  devastated Shandaken community. Articulate and charming while helping others. They are an asset to your community.

Eric Wedemeyer
Margaretville,N.Y

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I was one of the lucky recipients of Ryan and Lindas Help this winter in Shandaken. This loving wonderful kind joyous couple helped me in so many ways They showered me with love, encouragement , kindness thoughtfulness and laughter. They represented your community beautifully and all the good you stand for. I think the most touching ante dote to share is that they knew that all I really cared about was planting tulip bulbs before the ground froze so that when spring came I would be happy every day waking up to their beauty.I had huge problems on my Plate but all I really cared about was the tulips knowing that by the spring all those problems would be nothing but a vague memory and that the renewal and beauty of life that spring brings in our mountains reminds us of Gods majesty I came home exhausted and feeling defeated one day from a new job in the middle of moving( and all the chaos that brings ) to my new place and Linda had planted all of my 50 tulip bulbs for me and Ryan had cleaned this ceiling fan that was too high to for the landlady to reach and was depressing me as it was so black with soot. To be so sensitive and caring to know thoses simple acts would make me feel loved and would renew my faith in the goodness of mankind was remarkable I am eternally grateful to them and to your community for sending them. Now every morning when I awake this spring I will have a smile on my face thinking about that beautiful young God loving couple(and cute little Cassidy too!) Thank You.

Ellen Kinnally
Mt Tremper, NY