Tornado Recovery Experience Aids Covid-19 Care

The town of Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by an EF5 tornado on the evening of May 4, 2007.  Pastor Jeff Blackburn of Greensburg Mennonite Church published his reflections of that night and the following years in a book, Light at the end of the Funnel: A Journey Through Disaster and Trauma, on the 10th anniversary of that tornado.  SCC Regional Conference Minister, Howard Keim, asked Jeff a few weeks ago about what he learned from that tornado experience that applies to the current situation with Covid-19. 

As a person who has led through an earlier crisis and has a lot of training and experience in dealing with trauma and emergency preparedness, Jeff offers reflections that are simple but profound.   We pray they bring encouragement and hope to you!  

Jeff says, “I learned that this too shall pass, and life will return.  Normal will be different in the future, but we will get through this.  We do not know how long it will be, but each day brings it closer.  I find it helpful to maintain a routine and to find some practical way to be of service to others each day.  For now, I am working with the Food Pantry to make sure it has enough supplies for those who need it most and making deliveries to people in our community.”