The tragedy in Nepal is overwhelming - the loss of human life and community is devastating. Still in times of natural disaster we cannot give up - rather in times of chaos as elements of the earth are unleashed in a frenetic fury we must come together in LOVE and the LIGHT of mercy. Mercy is the flicker of light that becomes a unifying flame in the wake of disaster so horrific you cannot fathom the purpose. I often question God for the reason of natural disasters and the catastrophe of the human and animal life stolen in the wreckage.
I find myself reminded in the natural splendor of Yellowstone National Park - one of God's most beautiful spots on earth - that Yellowstone is a super-volcano - its resplendent natural wonder formed out of seeming chaos of the natural order - death is a part of Yellowstone's history, as is life - life rallies from the ashes and life fights to survive.
I look at the tragedy in Nepal and my heart is weighed down by the pain and suffering of those trapped in the rumble - those who have lost everything, the victims and their families...how can one find hope in such destruction - Out of the rumble - a perseverance and will to live powers through and an empathy of neighbor and foe, enemy and friend emerges with the common focus on saving lives out of the rubble and rebuilding the community - even if it is brick by brick.
No life is taken in vain - God mourns for every soul lost in disaster, but TRUST that GOD heals the brokenhearted. It is hard to fathom how death can have any peace - but I do believe that God is active in healing communities in disaster. It is important to distinguish God's will and the fury of nature - because God is always at our work for Good, even in the worst of tragedies. You can see God's LIGHT in the relief workers, those who feed the displaced and give comfort to the lost, YOU SEE the LIGHT of HUMANITY in a united effort to do GOOD even in the midst of tragedy. The pain is real, still it is a pain where love can gather the afflicted and spark a fire of hope - through the LIGHT of LOVE and ACTIVE WORK in the wake of disaster.
We must remember the dead, the suffering and work to uplift all who are victims of such tragedy - we are all brothers and sisters - humanity - cannot stand divided in the schisms of the earth we must unite in love, service and allow our tears of grief to heal sorrow and build up those harmed by disaster.
There is a worldwide call to action in the wake of earthquakes and other disasters - we need to work together to heed the warnings science has given us and respect the power of nature. Nepal has long been a known epicenter for a potential earthquake and many in power neglected to invest in infrastructure and awareness of the potential threats of a seismic event.
"Political gridlock and substandard infrastructure left the country particularly vulnerable to devastation." - The Atlantic
If we don't learn these lessons from Haiti, Japan and Nepal many will needlessly lose their lives. Natural disasters cannot be prevented and we are sorely reminded of our humble finite stance in the wake of disaster, but we can stop greed and selfishness to help prevent a loss of life where warnings are known and can be mitigated. I make this point not has a condemnation - NO ONE deserves to have such power of a mighty earthquake destroy their life - NO ONE and that is why I think we need to use events like this as alarms to help us be better prepared next time. Nature's beauty and wrath is sharp as a double edge sword - it is quick in disaster - THANK GOD we have scientific tools to at least understand seismic phenomenon and other natural disasters. That is why humanity needs to rise up in EMPATHY in times of crisis and also have accountability so even if we cannot smote the wrath of nature we have some shelter in storms. This is easier said than done - especially when poverty, greed and corruption run rampant in the world - we must come together as advocates for the least and our voices will be greater than the shrill silence of turning a blind eye to suffering.We cannot turn a blind eye to the people of Nepal and all who suffering from calamity, natural disaster, war and famine. People say where is God is disaster - but the Holy Spirit is within us and we must do GOOD and walk in active love - to help heal the brokenness of the world. Earthquakes rise up like a frenzy of chaos, but love - agape - selfless love and justice of spirit is constant and we must use it to help support all who suffer.
It is natural to be paralyzed by fear in the wake of tragedy - yet often times it is in the midst of the deepest pain we must march on and work to serve those in need. War, famine, flood and disaster can only find healing through a coming together in love. Natural disasters are a part of life, but if we come together in love and a fierce spirit of service in courage to help others then the trauma though immense will not define humanity - it is a harsh balance and one at this point where words fall short. All I can do is pray with a sincere heart and GIVE what I can and mourn for those who are suffering.
Prayer is a powerful tool - both the Buddhist and Christian populations in Nepal rely on prayer and peace and a focus on selfless community and love - an individual path of doing good for the sake of doing good - salvation is a reward - but only as a consequence of first desiring the will to do good through selflessness. Desiring less of the world and more of desiring service and compassion.
So I invite you to pray for the people of Nepal - I pray for the departed, the sick and injured - to lose everything in just one single cataclysmic event - is enough to remove faith, hope and love from anyone - yet out of the furnace of disaster there is an unbridled spirit of hope and a desperate desire to remember those that died, uplift their spirits and work to come together as a community.
Another important CALL TO ACTION is to contribute in anyway we can to aid relief. It is important that when you donate to aid relief it is with a recognized and legitimate relief agency. (Sadly many fall prey to those deceitful people who cowardly act use a tragedy for their own benefit.)
CNN Impact and ABC both have lists of vetted sites where you can donate to Nepal (the tragedy also affected India and Tibet).
I recommend giving to
UNICEF
The Red Cross
Catholic Charities
Episopal Relief and Development
A Prayer of Relief
Loving and gracious God,
All love and mercy compels us to the side of our global brothers and sisters.
In our charity, and in our compassion, help us stand with them.
In our solidarity and in our sharing, help us stand with them.
In our advocacy, and in our prayer, help us stand with them.
And as we turn to them in their peril, we ask your grace go with us:
To feed the hungry:
-give us your grace.
To give drink to the thirsty:
-give us your grace.
To clothe the naked:
-give us your grace.
To shelter the homeless:
-give us your grace.
To care for the sick:
-give us your grace.
To reach the trapped and the stranded:
-give us your grace.
To mourn the dead:
-give us your grace.
And in reaching out, may we find you in them.
And may they find you in us, Amen.
- Adopted from a prayer of Catholic Relief Services
My Prayer:
Most Gracious Father
May the Holy Spirit work through humanity to uplift those in trial in the midst of devastation
Actively call us to break bread with those who hunger, rescue those who are in peril and grieve the loss of those you have called into your kingdom. Let our tears of grief heal the pain and any divisions crumble to dust. Out of the ashes bring a renewed hope to rebuild communities in grace and hope through resiliency and persevering hearts - RISE UP SPIRIT of LOVE and LIGHT so we may not grow weary of doing good in tragedy or lose sight of the joy even in disaster - heal the injured, bless aid workers, restore lost foundations of this temporal realm with an assurance of the eternal foundation of YOUR LIFE.
May we all serve to help our human family - for we are all one even across the thousands of miles, spans of continent we all share in a frail flesh and strong spirit - may humanity join together to help heal the brokenness, rebuild and sow hope.
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