As all have seen, the last few days have been some of the darkest in our country's history. Hurricane Katrina not only devastated the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, but it also delivered a blow to the psyche of our nation.

For many years we, as a nation, knew something like this was plausable and probable. It was only a matter of time and that time has come.

In the weeks and months to come, our nation will be judged by how we respond to the need. Sadly, the early reports are not very encouraging. While we agree that the amount and scope of devastation is unheralded in the history of our country, more should have been done in preparation of Katrina making landfall. Certainly more could have been done in the days after the sky cleared to get assistance to people in the effected areas.

Such is about priorities, and to us, early on those in charge did not prioritize very well.

There's nothing we can do as a nation to change what is in the past, but we can change the future. The question is what we can do as individuals and as a community to provide help not only for those in Louisiana and Mississippi, but for those who fled the storm and found their way to Greenville.

The answer to that question can be found in your heart and in your soul. Reach out and show what we as a community, what we as Americans can do to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

By the grace of God it was not our community that was ravaged, but if it had been, we would hope our prayers would be answered.