As I sit here in my comfortable motel room, syncing my iPad and iPod, I can't help but think about the people in Joplin.

Monday morning I delivered a couple of excavators in Joplin, MO. They will be used to help in the clean up of the aftermath of the tornado that recently hit there.

My route to the delivery point took me through the middle of the area that was destroyed by the tornado. I have seen areas hit by tornadoes before, and had seen television images of the recent destruction in Joplin, but driving through there that morning was surreal.

One moment everything looked perfectly normal and the next I was driving through a mile wide area of almost total destruction. Homes, businesses, and trees had been utterly demolished. looking left and right all I could see was heaps of rubble that had once been people's homes and businesses. The level of destruction was disturbingly complete.

For an instant I started to reach for my camera, but then I reminded myself that many, many people had died in that rubble, and decided to not photograph the scene. Somehow it just didn't seem like the right thing to do.

I delivered the equipment and moved on into Texas to deliver the rest of my load, but the remainder of the day I was left with a very solemn and morose feeling in my soul.  I just couldn't help but think about what it must have been like to go through that horrific effect of nature at it's worst.

I hauled some things in and out after Katrina and wasn't nearly as affected as I was on Monday morning. Maybe it's because I have experienced many hurricanes in my life. Joplin was just...different somehow.

I was pleased to see that there were a great many volunteers working in the area helping out. Lots of good people still out there and ready to answer the call for help. That lightens the heart a bit.

I have never been one to pass on new scenes and experiences, but somehow I think I could have lived without passing through Joplin on Monday.