I did not plan it this way, God forbid! I am going from writing about our extravagence displayed in a football stadium, over against the extreme poverty of other people living on a stricken island.It is not about " we are good and they are bad." It is about we are blessed beyond measure, while most people on this planet struggle for their existence.
You know about Haiti. They have been devasted by an earthquake. The numbers of people dead and injured is still to be counted. Their buildings and highways are ripped apart. Some say 100,000, or many more, may have died. Help is pouring in from around the world, but it is difficult to resupply an island.
The World Factbook states that Haiti is the poorest country in all the Western Hemisphere. It ranks 203 in the world. Average family income is $1200. Two-thirds of the people depend on agriculture for their work. Widespread deforestation has left them vulnerable to mudslides and erosion. They were hit with FOUR tropical storms in 2008. Clothes are made in Haiti. Many of those buildings are now destroyed. We simply cannot imagine the staggering problems in this Island Nation today.
What can we do? Prayer, for Christians, is appropriate. Jesus wept and prayed over Jerusalem. We can do the same. We can send money, but must be careful where. There are already lowly people with scams to steal money by posing as legitimate help. Some will want to go and help. That will involve many risks and much discomfort involving food and water and a place to stay.
The age-old question always arises: Why did God do this to these people? Did He? I have my own answers, but none of us have THE definitive answer. This is a natural disaster. I think it would have happened if the island had had no inhabitants. Anyway, let's pray for the people stricken; relief workers; those in charge trying to work a plan of action. Perhaps it will bring some of us closer together. We could use that.