Although we know that we are anything but, it is tempting to live our lives as if we are invincible. Despite constant reminders of the frailty of life, it is easy to believe that our technology and law enforcement and all-around street smarts are enough to sustain us. There is nothing like a natural disaster to shatter that idea. In just a moment, the earth can turn turns against us, its feeble captors, and reminds us that we are small.
As I watched footage of Tuesday's massive earthquake in Haiti, I couldn't help but be hit by the magnitude of the damage and perplexed by the problem of recovery. Even the US, with all of its wealth and prestige buckled and bowed low under the weight of Hurricane Katrina. Much less a country with an annual per capita income of less than $400 and an average life expectancy of 53. How will they recover...tomorrow and in the years to come?
Anyway, all of this deep thought reminded of a fabulous piece that Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai wrote after the quake and tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean and claimed more than 200,000 lives. Another tragedy that left me with so many questions for God. ::le sigh:: Tsai gives voice to my confusion, but also leaves me with a sense of hope.
Enjoy the piece below and remember that life is too short. Don't let a grudge keep you from telling someone you love them. Tomorrow, it might be too late.
ps...if you're looking for an easy way to help, you can send a $10 Donation by Texting ‘Haiti’ to 90999. The charge will be tacked on to your monthly cell phone bill.
Aftershock
BY Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
the week the tsunami hit
i started reading the Bible again
for the first time
since I was five years old
so cried CNN, the Associated Press,
Reuters, and the BBC
so cried the Red Cross
and nations across the world
glaring at each other
to up the ante
to loosen their purse strings
i turn on the morning radio
and there is so much laughter
the mouths are huge
monstrous
as prayers and exhausted sighs of relief
sounded from every phone call,
every family member:
i am alive
i survived
i can hear you
a sober vision
as i close Bible pages
take it by the spine
and throw it against the wall
it breaks open
leaves trembling like lips
i don’t understand you God
but i do understand that
it’s not your fault
my heart breaks but God is good!
ReplyDeleteI think Natural disasters is the way Humanity reminds US that we are its children, we are its progeny & we must continue to labor for its rejuvenation by repeatedly coming to the aid of each other, particularly in the harshest of seasons, as this one.
ReplyDeleteI also think that by surrendering to the questions of why did this happen, our sense of powerlessness is more pronounced & our ambitions to come to the assistance of our brothers & sisters gives way to collective apathy and lethargy.
I would add on to your point about telling someone close to you that you love them & say that showing them you love them is far more important. As we all know, the essential gesture of love rests not on our tongues, but in its muted application.
"Oh God, why should this happen to Haiti of all places" was my first thought, then I said "God must love Nigeria, because if this happens no one will survive and to make matters worse we are so far away (18-24 hour flight) from America".
ReplyDeleteI realize that things like this happens to shock us back to reality. The realization that our God is a strong tower; the realization that life is too short; the realization that today is a gift to be cherished and tomorrow is unpredictable but in God's hand. I watched the footage of happenings on the streets of Haiti and wept but thank God for those who are alive, those who are helping and those who are praying.
Our God is a loving and merciful God, so go on and pass it on.