(I'm going to take a break from the predator/prey series to comment on current events.)
On May 6, 1937 the enormous German zeppelin, Hindenburg, exploded as it landed at New Jersey. As he watched the disaster unfold before his eyes, reporter Herbert Morrison spontaneously burst into tears and cried "Oh, the humanity!"
I've been experiencing the same feelings as I've seen and heard about the natural disasters in Myanmar, Chile, the American midwest and China. 46 people died in the Hindenburg disaster. Literally tens of thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) of people have lost their lives to these natural disasters over the last couple of weeks. Oh, the humanity!
Some of us may feel a bit helpless in the face of such disaster. I know I have in the past. Yes, we can donate some money to aid relief to the affected areas. Some more action oriented among us are actually prepared to physically go to the points of disaster. But, for most of us these disasters form a backdrop as we carry on with our normal, everyday lives. We should really be disturbed.
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi, referring to the destruction of Alderaan
I'm thinking, what if I were one of the "lucky" ones who survived a natural disaster? Stripped of everything. Right down to my flesh and bones. What's left? Even my body will someday die. What I'm learning is that my spirit is eternal. My spirit is what is of real consequence. I can affect my own spirit and the spirits of others.
When I see these disasters happen now, yes I say, "There but for the grace of God go I," but it also motivates me to do what I can to positively affect the lives of others in my own sphere of influence. I am not helpless there.
Am I making the ground shake by my temper? Am I a great wind that wreaks havoc all around me by my presence and personality? Do people feel like they're drowning in great waves of anxiety when I'm around? Do I bring a cloud of confusion like a volcano spews ash into the air? Do people feel fear, helplessness and hurt when I'm around, or do I bring peace, clarity and healing wherever I go? I have been known to do the former. I'm working on doing more of the latter.
Peace, Kim
Kim,
ReplyDeleteGood post and thoughts and I can indentify with you.
I will say our bodies are of great consequence. Biblically speaking our body is part of the real us. The other is Greek and Platonic.
Yet our hearts or spirits are an important aspect of our connection with God and with each other- bodies not excluded.
What tragedies, and how sheltered most of us are. Glad you're tuned in to them, and I'm working at doing better in that way, myself.