Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Haiti Quake

For anyone that has experienced an earthquake or have had a love one touched by a terrifying event you will resonate with the tragedy in Haiti. I remember my first encounter with an earthquake. I was at home with my family and we were eager to watch the SF Giants take on the Oakland A's in the 1989 World Series. Al Michaela & Tim McCarver were setting the stage for game three of 1989 baseball classic, when all of a sudden the cameras began shaking and the screen blipped. Only the audio could be heard as a still image filled the screen. The announcers bumbles the broadcast for a moment before the reality of a 7.1 earthqauke sunk in. The cameras began to show a light standard teetering and cries of the unknown from the 60000 fans that filled the air of Candlestick Park. I distinctvely remember one of the baseball players walking among the crowd holding tight to his son. Shortly after the images of a truck disappearing into a collapsed section of the Bay Bridge and the collapsed building in the marine district filled the TV screen. Helicopters showed the nimitz freeway in shambles.
All of my aunts uncles cousins and grandparents live in the Bay Area and we were consumed with fear and hopelessness as we frantically attempted to discover how our loves ones were. One uncle commuted daily across that same section of the Bay Bridge that collapsed the another frequently traversed the nimitz, now in shambles. We didn't hear from my cousin studying in San Fran until late in the evening. Images of destruction, announcements of death, plumes of fire and flame seen through the broadcasts that evening is forever etched in my mind. Even though I was disappointed by the fact that my beloved Giants lost the World Series, the reality of the tragedy that October night pales any sporting event. It is in the wake of this horrific catastrophe that envelopes the impoverished nation of Haiti which has sent my mind back to 1989.
Even now I think of my sister (in law) that lives in Port au Prince, thankful that she is safe, but heavy-hearted with the loss of life and livlihood that fills the night skies. Tomorrow we will read stories about seismological predictions ignored, chaos that fills the streets of dermas, and the assessment of talking heads wondering why aid is taking so long to reach the shores of the island nation. Those broadcasts are inevitable, the nature of 24-7 media coverage. But the question and topic that will rise to the top of many a conversation is, "why do bad things happen?" especially when we consider the location of this natural disaster. If being the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere isn't enough, these people have to suffer once again. Where is God in all this? Why could he let this happen? These questions will show up on blogs, tweets, facebook, and txt msgs. Some will say it is the wrath of God poured out on the evil voodoo worshippers; some will complain that the world powers and the UN didnt do enough to lift this poor nation out of poverty so they could better handle this earthquake; others will say this is just another example of global warming, "we are paying for the sins of abuse we have inflicted on mother earth." Why did this happen? Who is to blame?
I am ever amazed that very few face this horrible event straight on to seek and discover ways to bring good out of such horror. I don't know why a mother will now be childless tonite. I do not know why a sister will be spared and a brother forever asleep. However I have a sense of hope. A dark cloud filled the air one night 2000 years ago. Lightening flashed and the earth shook. Despair filled the hearts of young and old alike. How innocence could be be killed by the machine of injustice is unfathomable. Yet, this I know, the Emmanuel, the crucified one, and the resurrected one is the light in the midst of even the darkest Haitian day, here on the 13th of January 2010. All I know is that love reached into the jaws of death, love faced evil, love experiences pain and suffering. A father lost his only Son, a mother wept over the battered and bruises body of her first born, a friend and comrade was gone evermore?
Yet, every bleak and blackened night must give way to the ray filled heavens of the morning sun. On that particular morning when the cave was empty and the tears dried, it was found that death had no sting, the darkness would fade, and morning star would shine evermore. The Son of God, Jesus Christ never denied pain and suffering, he never ignored the oppressed and the marginalized. Rather he stepped into our sad estate and walked the dusty road with us; he took the burden of tyranny on his shoulders, and bore the stripes and bruises inflicted by the most evil one. And yet he still stands victorious!
Why & how bad things happen to the just and unjust, the poor and rich alike is up for debate. But this one thing I know, my faith, hope, and trust in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ is the means whereby anyone can live amidst all the storms of life. He will never leave or forsake, no matter the valley low or mountain high. He is a rock, a refuge, a strong tower, and green pasture, a rod and staff by which I can rest my weary soul. My prayer is that this hope and light can shine bright and strong over the days, months, and years that follow this earthquake in the nation of Haiti.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Not quite heretic, but more than just in error

I used to have this terrible habit of labeling someone/something, especially when it comes to politics and religion. I have officially decided that political discussions are by and large useless. We all have our opinions, which are more like hard-fast convictions that rarely consider adjustment. All the talk of being bi-partisan is ridiculous and in the end, most everyone refuses to budge and everyone agrees to disagree. As it relates to religion, to have a proper discussion all involved should have a few moments to est. their presuppositions and semantics that will guide their arguments. This would save much hassle and frustration and allow all parties to get to the heart of the discussions.
Of course, most "discussions" get to the agree-to-disagree conclusions, but a few conclusions leave a few persons rather perplexed or befuddled with a certain individual or group.
What do you do when you are faced with such an awkward situation. You really want to call them some generic name or label, but to do so often fails to create closure. Granted some people prefer the terms "extremist", "liberal", "conservative", or "heretic". I just can't go there right away. I need some wiggle room in regards to my judgments. So, after giving this some considerable thought, mainly b/c i have been labelled as such or do the labeling, I have come up with a term that is quite satisfactory, imho. and the word is Eresy or eritic.
For me, this term doesn't go as far as to say someone is a heritic, liberal, extremist, or conservative, yet it makes the observation that the person is a little bit more than off, they are in error. I am not ready to kick them off the island or disregard them all together, but i am really close. It says the jury is still out, I am willing to reserve judgment, or let's keep 'em around b/c it livens the discussion.
It also provides an opportunity for the person(s) to reconsider their positions and give a little more thought. Perhaps they are immature, young, or limited in their worldview. It could be anything, but most of all it keeps the lines of communication open, at the same time identifying dangerous territory in the dynamics of the discussion.
Try it on for size and let me know what you think.