Thoughts on the Asian earthquake and tsunami, finally

[KagomeShuko]

Even though among many I am normally known as a writer, this writer didn't have the words to write, and I'm not even sure if these are the words I wanted, but I was at least able to sit down, read some scriptures, and write something.

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I’ve not really been able to write anything as of the news. I just have no words. I go over and over things in my mind – things I have read, ideas I’ve had – and none of them seem right. If I only lived in my own little world with nothing in this world affecting me, it would be a wonderful time. However, that’s not the case. Yet, while this whole situation is sad, I’m glad that I don’t live in my own little world. This whole world does matter.

I still cannot grasp the idea of over 150,000 people dead. So many are still unidentified. So many families are in grief, yet I know life will go on. It always does.

I walk around my house and look at everything I have realizing all the things I have that I don’t truly need. I walk outside and I realize I have a truck, which I don’t truly need, either.
However, it gets me from point A to point B. I can hardly even imagine what it was like for those people in Asia and Thailand. I cannot imagine those mass graves.

I remember being in the group of over 3,000 youth workers, learning and praising God. It is even hard to imagine that number. I remember the ELCA National Youth Gatherings. I remember over 30,000 people praising God in worship and learning from the Bible and speakers. I can’t even imagine a dome full of people collapsing and killing them all, and yet, it would be over five Superdomes or over five TWA domes collapsing and killing all the people every single time. I cannot comprehend it.

I think about those things I have read. What about “man’s inhumanity to man”? No, that’s not really it. There is some of that. Children are being sold into sex rings. That is man’s inhumanity to man. Nature’s inhumanity to man? No, that really isn’t it, either.

Just what is it? My mind can’t come up with an answer. My mind can’t even come up with the correct question. Every day and every night I pray and ask God why and what can be done? Why did it have to happen? Will it happen elsewhere? What does it mean? None of them seem to be the right question and I never seem to have the right answer.

I look around myself and realize how blessed I truly am. I’m incredibly blessed to be living in America. I’m incredibly blessed to have a home and a job, albeit small. I feel so ashamed sometimes, going out, doing the normal activities I do, even if they aren’t for me. Look at what I could be doing and look at what I am doing. Look at what I could be doing. It makes me feel so bad, so very bad, and so very guilty.

All I can do is pray. I’ve just not figured out everything as of yet. I smile when I see all the good being done. I smile when I see all the places that ask us to please donate. I know I should help, I’ve just not figured exactly how, and I just keep praying.

I feel so numb. I know that God gave humans dominion over the earth. I know that sometimes the awful things that result are really our fault. Yet, I also know that God is so powerful and intervenes in human life every single day.

I know that natural disaster can come from God and be a warning. I know that man has done such awful things to the earth. Putting them together or keeping them apart, I can still find no answers.

I search the scriptures and while comforting, I’m still confused and numb.
So, as I offer my prayers to God, even though not for the same reason, the words of Martin Luther seem quite appropriate. As I pray, all I can say is, “Here I stand, I can do no other.” I await the best answer I can, and yet, I know that years from now, this will be forgotten and perhaps just another part of history writing in the history books.

All of this makes me see what a sinner I truly am. It makes me so glad for Jesus, God’s word of love, that God’s grace through Christ is sufficient enough. I am truly humbled.

While I am sad and I have no idea of what to say, I wonder how many of those people even had ever had a chance to hear the Gospel. How many had a chance to just completely surrender and let Jesus come into their lives? I know a few did, and at least we know that they are now in a better place.

I also know that God is working in their lives. From a friend, I was told about a church on a hill. The people were in a worship service, praising God, and the hill was high enough that the tsunami did no damage to the church or the people. I can only think of the parable of the wise man building his house upon the rock and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand found in Matthew 7.

I can only wonder how many people will now turn towards Christ and how many people will turn from Christ? I pray for the first option for all. I pray for the efforts of all those who are helping.

I pray. . .here I stand, I can do no other.

~ Bridget Ilene Delaney ~

[SPALATIN]

Even though among many I am normally known as a writer, this writer didn't have the words to write, and I'm not even sure if these are the words I wanted, but I was at least able to sit down, read some scriptures, and write something.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I’ve not really been able to write anything as of the news. I just have no words. I go over and over things in my mind – things I have read, ideas I’ve had – and none of them seem right. If I only lived in my own little world with nothing in this world affecting me, it would be a wonderful time. However, that’s not the case. Yet, while this whole situation is sad, I’m glad that I don’t live in my own little world. This whole world does matter.

I still cannot grasp the idea of over 150,000 people dead. So many are still unidentified. So many families are in grief, yet I know life will go on. It always does.

I walk around my house and look at everything I have realizing all the things I have that I don’t truly need. I walk outside and I realize I have a truck, which I don’t truly need, either.
However, it gets me from point A to point B. I can hardly even imagine what it was like for those people in Asia and Thailand. I cannot imagine those mass graves.

I remember being in the group of over 3,000 youth workers, learning and praising God. It is even hard to imagine that number. I remember the ELCA National Youth Gatherings. I remember over 30,000 people praising God in worship and learning from the Bible and speakers. I can’t even imagine a dome full of people collapsing and killing them all, and yet, it would be over five Superdomes or over five TWA domes collapsing and killing all the people every single time. I cannot comprehend it.

I think about those things I have read. What about “man’s inhumanity to man”? No, that’s not really it. There is some of that. Children are being sold into sex rings. That is man’s inhumanity to man. Nature’s inhumanity to man? No, that really isn’t it, either.

Just what is it? My mind can’t come up with an answer. My mind can’t even come up with the correct question. Every day and every night I pray and ask God why and what can be done? Why did it have to happen? Will it happen elsewhere? What does it mean? None of them seem to be the right question and I never seem to have the right answer.

I look around myself and realize how blessed I truly am. I’m incredibly blessed to be living in America. I’m incredibly blessed to have a home and a job, albeit small. I feel so ashamed sometimes, going out, doing the normal activities I do, even if they aren’t for me. Look at what I could be doing and look at what I am doing. Look at what I could be doing. It makes me feel so bad, so very bad, and so very guilty.

All I can do is pray. I’ve just not figured out everything as of yet. I smile when I see all the good being done. I smile when I see all the places that ask us to please donate. I know I should help, I’ve just not figured exactly how, and I just keep praying.

I feel so numb. I know that God gave humans dominion over the earth. I know that sometimes the awful things that result are really our fault. Yet, I also know that God is so powerful and intervenes in human life every single day.

I know that natural disaster can come from God and be a warning. I know that man has done such awful things to the earth. Putting them together or keeping them apart, I can still find no answers.

I search the scriptures and while comforting, I’m still confused and numb.
So, as I offer my prayers to God, even though not for the same reason, the words of Martin Luther seem quite appropriate. As I pray, all I can say is, “Here I stand, I can do no other.” I await the best answer I can, and yet, I know that years from now, this will be forgotten and perhaps just another part of history writing in the history books.

All of this makes me see what a sinner I truly am. It makes me so glad for Jesus, God’s word of love, that God’s grace through Christ is sufficient enough. I am truly humbled.

While I am sad and I have no idea of what to say, I wonder how many of those people even had ever had a chance to hear the Gospel. How many had a chance to just completely surrender and let Jesus come into their lives? I know a few did, and at least we know that they are now in a better place.

I also know that God is working in their lives. From a friend, I was told about a church on a hill. The people were in a worship service, praising God, and the hill was high enough that the tsunami did no damage to the church or the people. I can only think of the parable of the wise man building his house upon the rock and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand found in Matthew 7.

I can only wonder how many people will now turn towards Christ and how many people will turn from Christ? I pray for the first option for all. I pray for the efforts of all those who are helping.

I pray. . .here I stand, I can do no other.

~ Bridget Ilene Delaney ~

Your posting here makes it all the more important that as Christians we have a need to live Matthew 28:19. Your sentiments are shared by many.

[Organist]

Excellent post. At the very least, people are going all out helping these poor survivors. Another thing is that the illegal sex trade and exploitation of children is getting better coverage. Perhaps help is on the way.

There is no way I believe this is God's "punishment" of these people, as the news has been throwing out, lately. Where is our humanity, our humility, and our compassion? These are the questions that should arise during these disasters.

[night2day]

In the rush to help the survivors of the tsunami, may Christians be reminded the Church is to be the Church. While there are great physical needs to be met, there is also a dire spiritual need.

It's not our call to say if God made use of his active or passive will. However, He does hold the world within His hands. It's only by His grace that life continues on Earth as it has. While there is an urgent call to fulfill the need for clean water, food, shelter, and many other physical needs that should be addressed, may the opportunity to share the Gospel not go ignored.

In the Scriptures the first and foremost concern is eternal salvation. After all, Jesus died on the cross for those in southeast Asia so that they may have the complete forgiveness of sins and eternal life applied by grace, through faith in Him, just as he did for everyone else.

Within the areas affected false gods are worshiped just as they are in other areas of the world. Yet, their idols can offer no hope, comfort, or assurance. Only our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can.

Indonesia, India, to name two of the several countries in the region are known to persecute Christians. In fact, several Muslim groups have warned Christian ministries not to "proselytize". Despite this, may the door be opened for the Gospel and hearts be reached by the Holy Spirit through God's word.

[Organist]

I used to be on the Missions Board at our church, and we have some awesome missionaries in various parts of the world. We must continue to pray for our missionaries. :pray: