On Japan

I went to lunch today with a friend of mine.

A major portion of our conversation was spent discussing different things relating to the devastation in Japan.

She said,

"I came to work Monday morning thinking, 'This doesn't seem right.  I shouldn't be here.'"

Meaning:

It doesn't seem fair that our lives go on while tragedy abounds for millions of people.

I completely understood what she meant.

When my grandma passed away while I was a Senior in High School, I went to school the next week thinking,

"Doesn't anyone care what just happened to me?!  How can they carry on, not affected by this?"

Of course my devastation was personal and my mourning shouldn't necessarily have impacted the masses.

But, later today, I reflected on what I've done, how I've engaged myself, what manner of things I've consumed since last Friday, and wondered if, in this instance, I'm one of the masses.

And then I came across this post.

It resonated with me.

I think I'd like to focus my thoughts and faith on the people of Japan this weekend.

I think I'd like to focus on not the destruction, but on the humanity affected by the destruction.

I think I'd like to evaluate what I might be able to do personally for them.

It's a single candle in the darkness, for sure.

But a candle is to be set on a candlestick, not buried under a bushel of self-interest.

So, if you feel so inclined, I, too, invite you this weekend

To mourn with those that mourn

and

To comfort those that stand in need of comfort

In Japan.