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Thursday
March 2010
11
Community Blogs
I'm a mom of a 15-year-old daughter and a very energetic golden retriever. I lean to the right, but I don't plan on making this blog about politics unless issues demand. I do plan on discussing those things that life throws at us, from the trivial to the troubling. My goal is also to keep things relevant by keeping them local, but like the politics thing, I may draw outside of those lines from time to time. I enjoy people and their stories, because we all have one, and look forward to sharing and hearing about more.
How fragile we are
I learned Tuesday at 5pm of the Haiti earthquake, and as I knew 6 women from my parish were heading down to Haiti, my initial thoughts were for their safety. I was grateful to learn that they were still here, their flight that was to leave early the next morning canceled. Relief, but only momentarily.
They were to deliver supplies to our 'sister parish' in LaTabouliere, which is in the mountains. No doubt that village was eagerly looking forward to the visit, as they always are, for the moral and practical support our parish in Hales Corners brings. I am told they are all OK being separated they are from Port Au Prince by a one-hour plane ride, plus an additional bus trek up the mountain.
Yet my heart breaks to see the need, even though we have known this nation, in which 80% do not have electricity and 70% are illiterate, has suffered great need for decades. I will agree with the President in this case: the tragedy seems especially cruel given their hardships already endured.
As fragile as the buildings were that fell, so is their fledgling government, a republic in place only a few years. That there has been no official statement from the capitol is equally distressing. The concern is of course first to save the survivors trapped, bury the dead, and then ensure the fragile structure of order remains.
I've spent the better part of last year questioning my ill fortune, and wondering what it will take for things to improve. The images I've seen in the last 24 hours shame me, with a young mother grateful to God that her children are still alive, even though she has little to nothing else and no certainty when help will come.
I pray that help truly arrives to all those who need it, no matter where they are or what their disaster is, and realize that gratitude is our anchor. Our own fragility is reason enough to believe that there certainly is one stronger in which to place our faith.
"Oh lespri sen desann soy nou; vin konble nou ak tout de bon K'ap fe tout de BonDye. Le ou avek nou ranj nou byen bel ou fe tout de byen Je`men nan nou menm."
(Oh Holy Spirit, descend upon us. Come mix us with all the goo that will make us resemble God. When you're with us, You make us beautiful. You make all that is good germinate in us.)
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