Are You Ready?

More than 2000 people died in the 1989
Johnstown flood. How many were ready?

Today's gospel reading was the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins waiting for the bridegroom. The five foolish had no extra oil for their lamps. They weren't ready and missed the bridegroom when he came because they were out shopping for more oil. Meanwhile, the five wise virgins went into the wedding feast after refilling their lamps. Jesus finished his parable saying, "You know not the day or the hour..." so be ready.

That came home in a big way to me recently when we visited Johnstown, PA, the site of the 1889 flood, the worst disaster the country ever experienced up to that time. When the earthen dam fourteen miles above Johnstone broke, tons of water gushed down the river gaining speed and debris and slammed into homes and factories in the town demolishing them in an instant.