First of all, if there are any Japanese who visit this blog, please know that my heart is pleading for hope and help from God for you. But we must all remember that God's favorite medium to work through is people. You are on every prayer request list I come across, and everyone around me is begging to know what we can do. Groups are forming like a growing storm to rain any aid we can upon you. If you have any requests, please let me know, and I will do all that I can to support you. Can I contact someone, pray specifically for something, gather material to send over?
Also, you are all such an inspiration. Instead of panicking like it is the end of the world, you are gathering together to pull each and every one back onto his feet. What we are seeing that has really struck me is the lack of looting. This really, really gets to me. Everyone is shocked that this partner of disaster hasn't struck you as well, and it saddens me that we are shocked about this. Your culture is a model. When Katrina hit New Orleans, the place became the wild; humanity ceased to exist in favor of animalistic, survivalist behaviors.
The radio station I listen to in the mornings, Air1, was commenting about why the people of Japan are responding so admirably. Is it their faith? Is it their culture? Both? They mentioned how most of Japan is Buddhist and that Buddhism doesn't tolerate such behavior. Well...isn't the United States considered mostly Christian in its standings? Does that mean that looting is tolerated by Christianity?
Ok, we could bring up the whole bloody past of the RELIGION of Christianity...Crusade, slavery acceptance, judgmental stances of today...but what about the FAITH of Christianity?
The Faith is more obvious that one may think.
It is so easy for us to hone in on the bad and over look the inspiring. In Japan's case, the lack of the bad made us focus on the good. A person may not profess Jesus as his or her Savior, but anyone who cares for the injured, sick, and scared, who gives to those in need what is needed, and all in love and care for his or her neighbor: that person has humbly followed The Second Great Commandment. "Love your neighbor as yourself." ~Matthew 22:39.
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself..."~Leviticus 19:18
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you did for me [Jesus]." ~Matthew 25: 40
The one proud moment that I have with any big disaster like this one is the coming together of people to help the survivors. We all forget petty problems of our individual lives and focus our efforts to help dig a people out of tragedy.
Out of such a disaster rose inspiring people. Go Japan! And go People!
No comments:
Post a Comment