They are ubiquitous in our neck of the woods. Almost every interstate interchange has one. The bright yellow sign is unmistakable. Waffle House. The food is predictable, if not especially fancy. The prices are reasonable. And the servers are like diner waitresses of old--always ready to call you "honey" or "sweetie"! And, according to an article in our local newspaper this morning, Waffle House restaurants are a reliable sign of how a community has fared in the face of natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes.
It seems local, regional and even federal officials call it the Waffle House Index. If an area has basically escaped the worst of a storm's impact, Waffle Houses are up and running within hours. If they are open with a limited menu, it means there has been a certain amount of damage. And if the local Waffle House is closed, then a community has been devastated.
All this is due to the fact that the folks at Waffle House have a well-thought out and predictable well-executed plan for preparing and responding to the likes of Hurricane Dorian. Specially trained people, a stock of appropriate equipment, and so on.
One of the people interviewed in the article said that an open Waffle House means "the community has hope . . . It means things might actually be alright. It's like the sunrise after the storm." (The News Press, 9-3-19, 9-A)
It is my prayer that the church be thought of in just that way. It is my prayer that the church be seen as a sign of hope, as a sunrise after the storm. And in partnership with other public and private institutions, it is my prayer that we will continue to respond to those in need with compassion and assistance.
Welcome home, but please be safe. See Elizabeth's Facebook post about suggesting that all the Caribbean cruise lines let people whose homes have been washed away in the Bahamas live on board, eat, sleep and do laundry!
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