I've been without words on this topic. I have nothing new to add--
It's a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the people of Haiti and friends and family. And hopefully, everyone will be able to do what they can to give and help the many people who need help.
A friend wrote this to me as he thought about how to process and respond to the disaster in Haiti:
"2010 is only few weeks old but already I've been blessed to witness a flood of good fortune showering on me and my family and friends, with more to come. But at the same time we're all dealing with the universal catastrophe in Haiti. Sunday a friend shared some happy news with me and I blurted out, "This is the best year ever!" and immediately felt guilty about it. Now I don't say this to be a killjoy. Like I said I'm trying to reconcile these emotions. My initial fear was that the poor people of Port-au-Prince had somehow paid for our happiness with their blood and tears and that was horrifying because we could not in good conscience enjoy it. But now I look at it another way. I was recently reading about the ancient goddess Fortune and how her wheel can turn on anyone at any time. Clearly it's up for us and down for Haiti. At this moment, we grieve their losses and worry for their future. But I read something helpful yesterday, that despite our best intentions we do no good by drowning ourselves in pity and sorrow. For sure we must give money and the best of us give their bodies and labor to aid those suffering, but after that the best thing we can give is hope, peace, compassion, and love. I think we are best able to do that when we have an abundance of the same. So we should receive our bounty of good fortune--especially the hard-earned and well-deserved kind--give thanks for it, remember those less fortunate than we, and in so doing we share the light and increase it. Today we are the reminders that life is worth living and worth living well. Our example will find its way to where it needs to go."
Thank you, my friend for this.
And also, another friend is using the talent he has (as an artist and graphic designer) to help raise money for the quake victims by selling specially designed water bottles. (This is a photo of the design.) 100% of the profits will go to Partners in Health. The proverb on the bottle is a proverb: “Many hands make the load lighter.” Please consider helping the quake victims this way.
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