June 27, 2021 – CountUp

Shortly after 1:30 AM EDT on Thursday June 24TH 2021 disaster struck my South Florida community when about half of a fully-occupied 12-story residential beachfront condominium complex collapsed and pancaked onto itself along the Atlantic coast in the small town of Surfside (about 40 miles / 65 kilometers from my home).

It will very likely be the largest instant loss of life in Florida in nearly a century.

I realized the horror unfolding on the local TV news about 4 hours later as I was preparing to drive to work. At one point I got overly emotional, and I started crying. I haven’t stop grieving ever since. I weep with those who weep.

Search-and-rescue operations continue this weekend as our first-responder heroes continue to be hopeful that there are survivors underneath the rubble. We pray to our Lord for the safety and security of those heroes in the elements day and night atop the rubble. We pray for the comfort and peace of the family and friends who lost loved ones on that morning. We pray for the healing and restoration of the survivors who made it out alive. We lift up the town of Surfside to our God Almighty. #SurfsideStrong

I don’t personally know anyone who was in those towers, but I know that men and women, parents and children, and entire families went to bed on Wednesday night just like any other normal night with an ambitious schedule for Thursday, and in an instant they were physically gone along with the building they slept in. I didn’t know any of them, but they were my neighbors. They were God’s creations.

God is our refuge and strength – always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come, and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge !
(Psalm 46:1-3)

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.