THE GIFT OF HINDSIGHT

The force of nature is an awesome thing, from an intergalactic explosion spewing new planets, to the earthly power of earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes, to the spiritual and creative power that animates life in all its marvelous variations and subtleties.

The power of mere humans to counter the power and results of nature is limited indeed. We are not God. The intentions, political persuasions, competence, and foresight of good people to counter natural disasters, too often count for naught. That's reality - and sane people inhabit the world of reality. Most folks - whatever their race or political party - simply do their best, when faced with natural catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina. And that's what happened.

It's easy, it's simplistic, to deface an entire community based on amoral and mindless animal acts of looters and other criminals who took advantage of disaster to add to the disaster. Shame on them. Pick them up and dispose of them with the rest of the garbage. But shame on the rest of us, if we judge the many good by the few bad.

Could the president, congress, state and local governments - and, just as importantly, the inhabitants of the storm stricken area - have done better to prepare, and done better in response? Obviously yes. We could say the same about our own lives - could we have lived our lives better? Surely so.

God gave us many Gifts, including twenty-twenty hindsight. And we should use that hindsight to prepare for the future. And that preparation should begin at our home address.