Article April 3, 2006 Issue

A CITY INTACT

BY MARCY BEST

IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and things are progressing slowly.

Decisions from government officials have been delayed in coming, and the city's infrastructure is still not back to normal. Some people have been discouraged from rebuilding their homes because of problems with insurance companies and uncertainty about the city's future. The amount of rebuilding still to be done is extensive, and can seem overwhelming. We wonder whether there will be enough resources to help in the reconstruction. Other people have lost hope, as indicated by reports that suicide rates are increasing. The picture sometimes seems bleak.

At times like these I ask myself, "What am I putting my trust in? Where is my security? Will I continue to consider material things as valuable, when it has just been proved to me that they are temporary and can be taken away at any time? Will I put my trust in the government to make everything right for our city? Is there anything I can rely on, anything that I can trust, that will not falter?" It can be tempting to give in to doubt and fear.