My Aunt Dana is the closest thing to an angel in this world. I’ve never seen her exhibit any behavior that wasn’t true to her religious and personal beliefs. Every person who’s ever met her has been touched by her spiritual strength. There is an aura around her that is evident and very strong. If anyone on Earth is close enough to God to understand why things happen, it is Dana Wallace.

She will tell you how wonderful it is to be a Christian and what rewards await those who believe. She is a living, breathing testament to her faith. But I’ve never heard her speak for the Lord. She’s never tried to interpret disasters as specific acts directed toward groups of people.

It seems a lot of people are speaking for God these days, explaining his workings and interpreting natural disasters to fit their own religious or political beliefs.

Some Muslim cleric recently claimed the hurricanes in New Orleans, Texas, and Florida were punishment for the US being in the Middle East. He was strangely silent when the earthquake hit Pakistan and made no public comments about the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Alabama state Senator Hank Erwin claimed Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for New Orleans’ wicked ways. I would be more willing to believe God is punishing Alabama by giving them legislators like Erwin.

A few years ago, Oral Roberts claimed he was going to be called home to Heaven unless his flock donated a few million dollars. I thought being called home was a good thing. I never heard the final outcome; I think Oral survived that crisis and I didn’t notice whether the money was raised. I’m pretty sure it was never delivered to Heaven.

Last week, Pat Robertson warned Dover, Pennsylvania, about voting out conservative school board members. He claimed the vote against those who support Intelligent Design would incur the Lord’s wrath. If Robertson and his comical side kick Jerry Falwell haven’t incurred the Lord’s wrath for some of their actions recently, I don’t think the good folks of the Quaker State need to worry.

When TV preachers, politicians, or religious leaders try to interpret natural disasters, they usually come off badly. Innocent people are affected as well as sinners, infidels, and liberals and I can’t remember a hurricane, flood, or tornado that singled out its victims, especially by how they voted in the last election, or whether they believed in Darwin.

Several years ago, an unseasonably warm autumn was hit by a cold front. Storms raged throughout the evening and several tornadoes tore through Central Alabama. A swath of devastation extended for miles in every direction. The area looked like giant bulldozers had been running amok. Houses, barns, trailers, and trees were mangled as far as was visible. Two churches in the area were damaged severely. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Ironically, the only structure left standing for miles was a local bar. Not a board was torn off the building. Pat Robertson was silent about God’s intentions. Maybe keeping Robertson quiet was the Lord’s intention.