Oh, Haiti. I didn't want to see any footage about it. I didn't watch the news. I read just headlines. I knew it was bad. I wasn't surprised when it got worse. We gave to our Church's Humanitarian Fund (after all of the charity fraud following 9/11, i just give through our Church since i know 100% will go to the people in need).
But still, i hadn't seen any actual footage. Then i checked the DVR today and saw a new Oprah episode. Wyclef Jean in Haiti. I kept clicking through to see what else was recorded. Surely there was something mindless. And upbeat. But i was drawn back to the one about Haiti.
The destruction is horrendous. The loss of life devastating. The continuing suffering in the aftermath unimaginable. The response frustrating. But what breaks my heart? The children. Children who were already living in abject poverty now hurt, hungry, orphaned, dead.
I wish there were more i could do. I wish i could go and help fix wounds, bring food and water, rock a frightened child. These feelings reminded me a little bit of my experience on 9/11. I remember a part of me wanting to just stay home where i felt safe. Then i got a call from work announcing their disaster response and requesting all available employees to report to their units. I went and hoped to be able to help. To not feel so helpless. To feel useful and be actively involved. To do something. I went. And waited. But the hospital was never overwhelmed. Too few people survived when that plane hit the Pentagon.
But Haiti. There are so many walking wounded. I wish i could help. I wish i could do something.
"I would be my brother’s keeper;
I would learn the healer’s art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother’s keeper--
Lord, I would follow Thee."
I would learn the healer’s art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother’s keeper--
Lord, I would follow Thee."
5 comments:
Oh, that's how I feel. I don't want to see any of it because there is nothing I can do (besides contribute to the humanitarian fund). I seriously grieve for the poor children and even the mothers who are separated from their children. So sad.
I think it is the nurse in us--the day I heard about the devastation in Haiti, I looked to see if there were any international nursing aid groups I could join to go help. BTW-Do you remember that was our nursing school theme song?
this is why i steer clear of the news-- because i can't fix everything-- because i can't fly off to the place in need on a dime and work with others to heal... it's frustrating.
I wish I could do more too. Its so hard to feel helpless watching people suffering. I still can't wrap my head around the number of people who have died - 200,000?? Not to mention all the wounded. It's just so overwhelming.
We're having those same feelings here--at least the helplessness of wishing we could do more. It's really heartbreaking.
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