The life and resliance in this child's eyes reminds me that the hearts in Haiti are very real, and in desperate need of prayer (image via World Vision)
I return to my blog, not so much to give an update on school (more on that later), but to muse on a topic that’s been on my mind lately: compassion. On the 12th of this month, Haiti was devastated by disaster, and the world mourned with those affected by the tragedy. Less than three weeks later, it seems that the media has largely moved on from the event, focusing once more on the economy and, this week, the state of the union address. Preparing for a night of prayer/fund raising for Haiti, I found myself largely in the same position. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read the first news reports, and I prayed constantly for the week or so following the earthquake, yet I’m finding it easier and easier to distance myself and focus back on the things that make my life less than perfect. Even as I collected stories to pray over tomorrow night, I caught myself wanting to look for “just the right story”, glossing over the fact that the pain (and the resilience and hope) of these people is very much a reality, in the most raw and honest sense of the word.
I realize it’s my way of coping, since the idea of opening my heart to suffering and death is overwhelming, and even frightening at times. But more and more, I’m realizing that to see the world through God’s eyes . . . to let my heart beat with His, it is something I must begin to consider. I cannot bear the brunt of the burden: I know I would crumble under the weight of it. But if His heart breaks for each and every broken life in Haiti (and across the world, for that matter), shouldn’t I care for the country as a whole, or for those whose stories I have read? I know I am very limited when it comes to sending financial aid, or volunteering. But I can be desperate in prayer, on their behalf, and the hand of God will be where I cannot be (and His power, of course, is greater than any I possess).
What do you think? How have the stories from Haiti affected you? Or, how do you balance compassion for others and remain centered in your own life?
Everyday Circumstances 