Today I know when to step back and talk about something else other than me.
Haiti. 48 Hours Later: Haiti
Be forewarned, there are graphic and disturbing images there but this is a graphic and disturbing tragedy. We cannot turn our eyes, we cannot look away. Our help is needed, our prayers, our resources. It would be too easy to assume that someone else cares, that another person will donate. It can be too easy to hold ourselves at a distance, not wanting to be exposed. It reminds me of a song by one of my favorite bands, Lilies and the Sparrows.
The song is called Sweet Sixteen and part of the lyrics say,
The whole world screams,“Where can we find hope?”
they’re on their knees,
overflowing with disease.
They’re reaching out as we’re drawing back,
“don’t expose me to that.”
Though our hands may stay clean as we let those who are trained go in to do their jobs, our hearts cannot be protected from the suffering. We must expose ourselves so that we may nurture the compassion within.
May we not forget. In the days to come, when it is not the top news story, when the screams have weakened to cries and then to silent tears, when it will be so easy to go on with our own busy lives, may we not forget.
Help for Haiti: here’s a list of organizations already at work in the recovery and healing effort. You can see who is there, what they are doing and what your donation will be supporting.
