Contributed By Steve Goldberg
Six hundred miles from where I winter in South Florida, a huge tragedy continues to unfold. My heart has ached for Haiti for so long. It’s a country fraught with a multitude of problems—significantly compounded with the events of the past week— yet at the same time is a society abundant with resilient, loving, and passionate people.
Each day this week I’ve gone to bed and arisen in the morning feeling disturbed and inadequate. While I wake up each morning to my own life here in the US, my thoughts are with Haiti. It’s weird for me, connecting the two worlds.
I go to the tap for water or to the fridge to start my breakfast and find myself pausing to feel the pain of Haitians who have lost loved ones, or who don’t yet know the fate of their family and friends. Many don’t yet have food, water, or shelter. After pausing, I then push through, making my breakfast, planning my day, and moving on.
Knowing myself and the tendencies of human nature, soon I won’t be pausing for as long. And perhaps soon after that, I won’t be pausing at all. This is the hidden tragedy for me: how to stay awake, how to care and act in meaningful ways in the face of such devastation?
While I don’t yet have much insight into how to do this right now, I suspect others may be feeling similarly.
A website, www.lovebeyondwords.org, had a post the other day that helped me find some perspective:
“The Haitian earthquake of January 12, 2010 has resulted in loss of lives, and unbearable heartache and pain. Looking at the media reports, we cannot help but be moved with compassion. But in the midst of death and destruction we see a glimmer of hope.
Humanity’s ability to love to feel others’ pain and be moved to action is powerful. We can all play a part in helping. We can help on our knees and we can get up and give to our local churches, the Red Cross and other charitable organizations.
As difficult as this is, we see the resolve and determination of the human spirit that refuses to surrender to defeat. Even when faced with immense odds, it is clear from the worldwide outpouring of help, that all that matters is our love for each other”.
If you are moved to financially support Haitian relief efforts, a good place to start is www.CharityNavigator.org, an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates charity groups based on effectiveness and financial stability. The site has a link for Haiti.
Questions for reflection:
- Do you share my challenge in absorbing the impact of tragic global events while moving through the normal activities of your daily life? What have you learned and what suggestions do you have for others?
- What do you do in order to “stay awake” and to care and take action in meaningful ways when tragedy strikes? What about during more “normal times”?
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January 18, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Invisible Mikey
Thanks for this thoughtful post, Steve.
It takes daily practice to keep our hearts open, and not to succumb to despair.
(I also posted about compassion fatigue, forgiveness and the lessons in Charles Dickens lately)
January 18, 2010 at 11:50 am
Lisa Baez
Steve, thank you for sharing your deep felt emotions surrounding the tragic losses in Haiti and recognizing the impact felt within each of us. At times like these we can almost hear a resounding ”WHY” in the tears and sorrow around the world. While there may be no conclusive answers to the why questions, there is certainly strength and hope in prayer and supporting one another. I read this prayer on Beliefnet.com, which was a source of personal comfort for me:
Heavenly Father, It is with a heavy heart that we come to you, not necessarily knowing what we should ask for because many of us are wondering, “Why did this happen? Why has tragedy struck Haiti again and why do so many lives have to be lost again? Why has this beautiful island been struck by a catastrophic earthquake and ruined?” But as many questions as we have regarding the situation, we still humble ourselves before you to ask for your mercy to be upon Haiti and its people. Extend your hand upon the land and restore all that has been lost, destroyed and damaged to be better than it was before. As rescue teams search for casualties, give them foresight. May they be led by your wisdom, and encouraged by your strength and advised by your discernment. There are yet people who are surviving and I pray that the rescue workers would find them in time and revive them. For the lives that will be lost, we pray for immediate comfort to come to the family and friends of the deceased. For those of us who are watching this unfold from the outside, I pray that you would give us hearts of compassion so that we can give out of our surplus to fill the deficit that is widening in Haiti. May we all extend ourselves in any way possible to secure our brothers and sisters in Haiti. And may every prayer regarding this tragedy be heard and responded to in your good time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Blessings to all, especially those in Haiti.
Lisa
January 18, 2010 at 9:44 am
Andrea
Dear Steve;
It’s true that this event has haunted many of us over this last week. Last night we had windstorm in our area that lasted the whole night and disturbed my sleep as well as that of many others I’m sure. I was so grateful to wake up in the morning and still have electricity and heat as I thought of all that the Haitian people had lost. Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti and, although we do what we can to help them through this crisis, we feel inadequate. These two unrelated events have made me even more thankful for what we have here compared to the rest of the world and I suddenly feel the need to become much more active in minimizing my impact on the limited resources of the earth so that everyone, everywhere has a chance to have a safe and more dependable living space.
January 23, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Karen
Dear Andrea, Steve and all,
The latest wind storm was the first I experienced while in a rural community. And the first time I have ever run out of water and felt thirst and anxiety about where I would find water if the power stated out for a long time. I realized then and there that I have never come near, not even close, to understanding real poverty and famine. It’s made me think really hard about any sort of complaint I might have – from questioning the value of the olympics (who am I to say no to something so very very part of peace time and times of abundance) to simple things like complaining of waiting in line.
I have been going through a rough time mood wise too. I have been isolating myself and have not read and stories or watched any newsclips on Haiti. I just know what happened and made a small donation that was enabled by my cell phone provider. Part of me is afraid that seeing photos will trigger more anxiety and disable me more. Part of me is simply praying for them and trying to understand. The idea that all hardship is a lesson and gives us another opportunity to love even more is very reassuring. I believe it. I also believe that our universe is a “complex adaptive system” and all parts and processes are necessary for the whole to work at all. That includes earthquakes and bc hydro and breathing and drinking and sorrow and love.
My prayers to all who thirst.
Karen
January 24, 2010 at 8:07 am
Steve Goldberg Moderator
Karen:
I am so moved by your post especially knowing and believing in you as I do.
Thanks for taking the time to reflect on this topic, even with the fear…
Sending much love and light your way,
Steve