Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Haiti

The tragedy in Haiti, like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, will take decades to rebuild. I cannot overstate the need for prayers. The first move in pain is to ground ourselves in God. God loves us. God did not bring this disaster. God is the power that allows us to rebuild.

There is no good news in the earthquake. The suffering is deep and the agony affects the Haitian diaspora not only in America, but around the world. When another human being is in pain, unless we close our eyes, we hurt too.

And if our eyes are open, this is where the good news begins. So many are already doing so much in an impossible situation. The good news begins in the saving of lives, the honoring of the dead, and the slow rebuilding--one life, one home, one neighborhood at a time.

You can help too. Again, first, pray.

Second, understand. Go to http://www.kimandpatrick.blogspot.com/ and you can read the words from our UCC partners in Haiti. I was on a national UCC board in grad school with Patrick's brother. Great folks who were there before the quake and in the right place to help.

Third, invest. Whether in Fonkoze, the microloan bank that will help the people restart the economy, or in trusted organizations like the Red Cross, every drop in the bucket helps it fill up.

The kingdom of heaven is like a bucket in which you put one drop, and suddenly it it full.

Haiti

The tragedy in Haiti, like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, will take decades to rebuild. I cannot overstate the need for prayers. The first move in pain is to ground ourselves in God. God loves us. God did not bring this disaster. God is the power that allows us to rebuild.

There is no good news in the earthquake. The suffering is deep and the agony affects the Haitian diaspora not only in America, but around the world. When another human being is in pain, unless we close our eyes, we hurt too.

And if our eyes are open, this is where the good news begins. So many are already doing so much in an impossible situation. The good news begins in the saving of lives, the honoring of the dead, and the slow rebuilding--one life, one home, one neighborhood at a time.

You can help too. Again, first, pray. Second, understand. Go to http://www.kimandpatrick.blogspot.com/
and you can read the words from our UCC partners in Haiti. I was on a national UCC board in grad school with Patrick's brother. Great folks who were there before the quake and in the right place to help. Third, invest. Whether in Fonkoze, the microloan bank that will help the people restart the economy or in trusted organizations like the Red Cross, every drop in the bucket helps it fill up.