Christmas Past
I had a good Christmas with my family. Others, unfortunately, did not.
First: A man woke up at 8:00 am in Hilo and found his bedroom on fire. He escaped but his home was destroyed.
Second: A good Christian man. who also happened to be a Hall of Fame football player, died in his sleep after going to bed the day after Christmas. Reggie White, one of the best defensive players ever, had spent part of Christmas Day going to the movies and watching "Fat Albert." Alive and well one moment and gone the next. Already a legend at age 43. Among other things, Reggie White was an ordained Christian minister and founder of what has become a nationwide Christian athletes organization. I am 53 and cannot say that I have had anywhere near the impact of this man. He worked hard. He excelled. And he shared his Good News. Perhaps dying so young will elevate his memory to the "greater than life" status that comes with legend-hood. If so, this will only serve to enhance his value as a positive role model, especially for African-Americans who have seen too many of their "sports heroes" fall during the past few months.
Third: One man's death, even that of a very good man, pales when contrasted with death of 25,000-50,000 in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean that same day. Somali fisherman who set out to sea that morning never returned. Tens of thousands were startled awake only to drown in the final few moments of life that remained to them. Early warning systems that have been installed and maintained throughout the Pacific Basin were felt to be too costly and unnecessary among the nations surrounding the Indian Ocean. Even so, some warnings were communicated via satellite to many countries who took a casual approach to the looming disaster, in some cases passing the information to coastal areas two hours after the massive waves had swept everything and everyone away.
Today's report indicated that only 3 people in Bangladesh had been reported killed in the tsunami. If the history of past flooding in Bangladesh is any indicator I fear that number will skyrocket into the tens of thousands in the coming days.
As Hugh Hewitt said on his radio broadcast today, these preliminary numbers represent the equivalent of more than 8 World Trade Center attacks. Relief needs will be overwhelming to the impoverished nations involved. People living in most of the areas impacted were already subsisting with sub-standard water supplies, inadequate sanitation, little food supply and few medical resources. Undoubtedly more will die from the effects of hunger and disease than by the first blast of the tsunami itself.
It will reflect well on us all, as Americans, to donate generously to agencies that can effectively direct emergency aid. World Vision, Church World Service and the International Red Cross come to mind. This is one of those times when even a small amount of money will almost guarantee that someone in some lonely, devastated spot, will live instead of die.
You can either buy a latte or save a life with the same amount of money spent. I suspect that far too many Americans, including Christians, will choose the latte. And God will weep.
First: A man woke up at 8:00 am in Hilo and found his bedroom on fire. He escaped but his home was destroyed.
Second: A good Christian man. who also happened to be a Hall of Fame football player, died in his sleep after going to bed the day after Christmas. Reggie White, one of the best defensive players ever, had spent part of Christmas Day going to the movies and watching "Fat Albert." Alive and well one moment and gone the next. Already a legend at age 43. Among other things, Reggie White was an ordained Christian minister and founder of what has become a nationwide Christian athletes organization. I am 53 and cannot say that I have had anywhere near the impact of this man. He worked hard. He excelled. And he shared his Good News. Perhaps dying so young will elevate his memory to the "greater than life" status that comes with legend-hood. If so, this will only serve to enhance his value as a positive role model, especially for African-Americans who have seen too many of their "sports heroes" fall during the past few months.
Third: One man's death, even that of a very good man, pales when contrasted with death of 25,000-50,000 in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean that same day. Somali fisherman who set out to sea that morning never returned. Tens of thousands were startled awake only to drown in the final few moments of life that remained to them. Early warning systems that have been installed and maintained throughout the Pacific Basin were felt to be too costly and unnecessary among the nations surrounding the Indian Ocean. Even so, some warnings were communicated via satellite to many countries who took a casual approach to the looming disaster, in some cases passing the information to coastal areas two hours after the massive waves had swept everything and everyone away.
Today's report indicated that only 3 people in Bangladesh had been reported killed in the tsunami. If the history of past flooding in Bangladesh is any indicator I fear that number will skyrocket into the tens of thousands in the coming days.
As Hugh Hewitt said on his radio broadcast today, these preliminary numbers represent the equivalent of more than 8 World Trade Center attacks. Relief needs will be overwhelming to the impoverished nations involved. People living in most of the areas impacted were already subsisting with sub-standard water supplies, inadequate sanitation, little food supply and few medical resources. Undoubtedly more will die from the effects of hunger and disease than by the first blast of the tsunami itself.
It will reflect well on us all, as Americans, to donate generously to agencies that can effectively direct emergency aid. World Vision, Church World Service and the International Red Cross come to mind. This is one of those times when even a small amount of money will almost guarantee that someone in some lonely, devastated spot, will live instead of die.
You can either buy a latte or save a life with the same amount of money spent. I suspect that far too many Americans, including Christians, will choose the latte. And God will weep.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 7:40 PM
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