Video of Houston pastor playing piano in his flooded home goes viral

Aric Harding played on despite sitting in several feet of dirty flood water (Instagram/AricHarding)

It's a stirring image: a pastor sitting quietly at a piano, ignoring for a moment the fact that his home is completely submerged in several feet of dirty water.

As Texas starts to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Harvey blew a course of destruction through the state, the most amazing stories of courage and endurance are emerging.

And Aric Harding's is another. The pastor and musician returned to his submerged home to check everything was ok and pick up a few essentials.

As he was going around his destroyed home, he took a moment to play a gentle tune on his son's piano.

He didn't record the moment for any fame; it was to reassure his son – a keen pianist – that the piano was still working fine in spite of the deluge.

'I just wanted to make a quick video to show him that piano works fine,' he said, according to the Associated Press

He posted the video to Instagram and it obviously struck a chord as it's been viewed thousands of times.

The caption to the post quoted from Romans 8 after his church's pastor preached from it in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Specifically, he quoted Romans 8:18-28 which encourages believers to remember that their present sufferings are not worth comparing to the future glory.

He added an amazingly positive note about his hope for Houston going forward and the beauty that can still be seen even in the place of suffering.

'I think it's finally sinking in a little. What we used to have going as a city is gone. I really think God is going to do something completely new here. I am excited to see the new beauty in the suffering,' he said.

The father of seven's story is so inspiring that singer Vanessa Carlton even offered on Twitter to buy him a new piano if their current one doesn't make it.

News
Marriage is the safest relationship, latest figures suggest
Marriage is the safest relationship, latest figures suggest

Of the eight children murdered during lockdown, 7 were killed thanks to the actions of a step parent or new partner.

Abortion rises in Northern Ireland for fifth year running
Abortion rises in Northern Ireland for fifth year running

Abortion was legalised in Northern Ireland in 2019.

Churches helping millions of Brits get by as living costs remain high
Churches helping millions of Brits get by as living costs remain high

Across the country, people are looking to the church for help.

Isaiah 41:10 is YouVersion's Bible verse of the year
Isaiah 41:10 is YouVersion's Bible verse of the year

Isaiah 41:10 had the highest international engagement on YouVersion during 2025, while in the UK it was Jeremiah 29:11 that topped the list.