Hurricane Katrina
I remember this past weekend, going to bed one night with the voice of words ringing in my head about the coming hurricane, headed straight for New Orleans. I remember lying in bed with tears pooling in my eyes trying to pray for the people who at that moment were living in a world of terror ... fleeing from their home city or home, or just standing there, lost and scared. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like at that moment for all those thousands of people.
Tonight, I have yet to watch any news shows on television about it, but what I see in my mind's eye is beyond terror-able. To hear of the devistation of land and property and city that held a beauty unique ... to read about the lawlessness and chaos and anarchy ... to think about the leadership that seems to sound so sincere yet watch the sea of people who have gone hungry and lost ... to reflect on all the people who are suffering beyond what I have ever known or experienced or witnessed ... I want to help, but what can I do? All the organizations are asking for money, and well they need it. But I have no money ... what good would $20 do? I have myself, but who can use a body? All seem to want money instead.
I read and am horrified and a sick feeling wells up in my stomach. Is this where we are headed? What will the next month hold? or next year? We, who have been so blessed over the generations, are now at this point ... where a natural disaster occurs and we are crippled and destroyed. How many other countries and nations have suffered through something this great and greater ... and we did what? Yes, we sent aide and help probably, but there was a sense of distance. That was over there, and not here. There was almost a sense of self-righteous pride and relief in the knowledge that it was not us who had to find our way out of that mess. Well, it is now ... and what are we demonstrating that we have learned by watching and helping others? Nothing. We are as lawless and greed-filled as anything we have created on film.
How odd that I am contemplating this from my side of the border ... I am not a USAmerican, I do not live in the Deep South, I am not affected by the devistation like they are. And yet, I am ... I am like them, I have been blessed like they have ... and as I saw the gas prices rise between last night and today here, in my neighborhood, from $.92 yesterday, up to $1.15 / litre tonight, I am affected, too. Is it only because I am being hit in the pocketbook that makes me cry? No, I don't think so.
I used to contemplate my future and that of my nation and have a sense of optimism and excitement. I would think of the wonderful things that I had yet to experience and I looked forward to them. Now, I can't help but look ahead through glasses that have turned dark and ominous. No, not completely (for if one is truly optimistic, there will always be a sense, albeit perhaps an ignorant one! of thinking that it can't be ALL bad, can it?) ... but certainly more than I had, say, even a month ago. How much of what my reality is is wrapped up in money? And if the money ends, how much longer until I am in a place that is no longer secure and safe? Me, an educated woman, an intelligent woman ... how far am I from those people that I observed this last summer? ... and what if I don't know how to avoid becoming that? What will I do then?
There is a cold fear in my heart tonight ... one that this optimistic, positive person has never experienced before. And I don't know how to deal with it.
Please God ... You promised to never desert me ... I am holding on to that promise now. And please be with all those in the ravenged areas and all the people who are there to help ... Oh Lord, we need You now!!
Tonight, I have yet to watch any news shows on television about it, but what I see in my mind's eye is beyond terror-able. To hear of the devistation of land and property and city that held a beauty unique ... to read about the lawlessness and chaos and anarchy ... to think about the leadership that seems to sound so sincere yet watch the sea of people who have gone hungry and lost ... to reflect on all the people who are suffering beyond what I have ever known or experienced or witnessed ... I want to help, but what can I do? All the organizations are asking for money, and well they need it. But I have no money ... what good would $20 do? I have myself, but who can use a body? All seem to want money instead.
I read and am horrified and a sick feeling wells up in my stomach. Is this where we are headed? What will the next month hold? or next year? We, who have been so blessed over the generations, are now at this point ... where a natural disaster occurs and we are crippled and destroyed. How many other countries and nations have suffered through something this great and greater ... and we did what? Yes, we sent aide and help probably, but there was a sense of distance. That was over there, and not here. There was almost a sense of self-righteous pride and relief in the knowledge that it was not us who had to find our way out of that mess. Well, it is now ... and what are we demonstrating that we have learned by watching and helping others? Nothing. We are as lawless and greed-filled as anything we have created on film.
How odd that I am contemplating this from my side of the border ... I am not a USAmerican, I do not live in the Deep South, I am not affected by the devistation like they are. And yet, I am ... I am like them, I have been blessed like they have ... and as I saw the gas prices rise between last night and today here, in my neighborhood, from $.92 yesterday, up to $1.15 / litre tonight, I am affected, too. Is it only because I am being hit in the pocketbook that makes me cry? No, I don't think so.
I used to contemplate my future and that of my nation and have a sense of optimism and excitement. I would think of the wonderful things that I had yet to experience and I looked forward to them. Now, I can't help but look ahead through glasses that have turned dark and ominous. No, not completely (for if one is truly optimistic, there will always be a sense, albeit perhaps an ignorant one! of thinking that it can't be ALL bad, can it?) ... but certainly more than I had, say, even a month ago. How much of what my reality is is wrapped up in money? And if the money ends, how much longer until I am in a place that is no longer secure and safe? Me, an educated woman, an intelligent woman ... how far am I from those people that I observed this last summer? ... and what if I don't know how to avoid becoming that? What will I do then?
There is a cold fear in my heart tonight ... one that this optimistic, positive person has never experienced before. And I don't know how to deal with it.
Please God ... You promised to never desert me ... I am holding on to that promise now. And please be with all those in the ravenged areas and all the people who are there to help ... Oh Lord, we need You now!!
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