By Katie Newingham
The earth shook, the windows shattered, walls twisted, collapsed, protruded as the water was pulled back like a slingshot, releasing at speeds topping 600 miles per hour, a 30 ft wall smashed the coastline of Japan. Within 24 hours, mothers were in line to receive rations of rice and water. Fathers were shoveling mud from their homes and businesses; determined to start their lives over again. Yet, in the midst of their resiliency, the threat of cancer causing radiation looms over their land.
What would you do if this catastrophe struck your homeland? Would you be like the top level engineers who have chosen to stay at the nuclear plants, exposing themselves to high levels of radiation, essentially sacrificing their lives to save the masses. Or would you be like the mothers who choose to wait in line each day for hours, in order to receive portions for their family, only to share them with the elderly and disabled in their town. Maybe you would be on the the townspeople who was spared, whose home was left standing and whose cabinets and pantries are still full. Would you risk not having enough by sharing your resources, so your neighbors had something to eat or drink?
Until we're in dire straights, it's impossible to know how we would respond. If you believe our actions follow our thoughts and desires, you most likely know whether you would stay and serve, flee out of fear, or give up from the compounding grief and loss. These are the options faced by the survivors of Japan's 9.0 earthquake, subsequent tsunami and nuclear plant meltdowns.
If you've been fixated on the coverage in Japan, trying to figure out how you can help: sending your thoughts and prayers, giving monetarily or even packing your bags to assist in humanitarian aid missions, you're most likely an action oriented person. For those of us who have yet to act, let's not pretend that watching the coverage and feeling sorry for the Japanese people is doing anything to help them. The coverage is not for our entertainment or to make us feel more blessed in our circumstances. We may be separated by thousands of miles, but we are united by the same human spirit.
Sometimes it may seem like the little we can do will do nothing for even one family in Japan. Overwhelmed by the thought of what little we can do, we choose to do nothing. The reality is if one small neighborhood or church in America sponsored just one family, their would be enough aid to feed, cloth and rebuild the devastated communities in Japan.
So here are some unique ways to support the relief efforts in Japan. Are you shopping around for any birthday presents? Who doesn't need a nice set of coasters, consider buying a set from UNICEF at just $9. Or you're in debt up to your eyeballs and giving isn't an option. Have you considered selling some things around your house. Right now, if you sell anything on eBay, you can designate a certain percentage go towards relief efforts in Japan. If giving or going are absolutely not options for you but you want to help, Samaritan's Purse has a prayer guide on their website.
What would you do if this catastrophe struck your homeland? Would you be like the top level engineers who have chosen to stay at the nuclear plants, exposing themselves to high levels of radiation, essentially sacrificing their lives to save the masses. Or would you be like the mothers who choose to wait in line each day for hours, in order to receive portions for their family, only to share them with the elderly and disabled in their town. Maybe you would be on the the townspeople who was spared, whose home was left standing and whose cabinets and pantries are still full. Would you risk not having enough by sharing your resources, so your neighbors had something to eat or drink?
Until we're in dire straights, it's impossible to know how we would respond. If you believe our actions follow our thoughts and desires, you most likely know whether you would stay and serve, flee out of fear, or give up from the compounding grief and loss. These are the options faced by the survivors of Japan's 9.0 earthquake, subsequent tsunami and nuclear plant meltdowns.
If you've been fixated on the coverage in Japan, trying to figure out how you can help: sending your thoughts and prayers, giving monetarily or even packing your bags to assist in humanitarian aid missions, you're most likely an action oriented person. For those of us who have yet to act, let's not pretend that watching the coverage and feeling sorry for the Japanese people is doing anything to help them. The coverage is not for our entertainment or to make us feel more blessed in our circumstances. We may be separated by thousands of miles, but we are united by the same human spirit.
Sometimes it may seem like the little we can do will do nothing for even one family in Japan. Overwhelmed by the thought of what little we can do, we choose to do nothing. The reality is if one small neighborhood or church in America sponsored just one family, their would be enough aid to feed, cloth and rebuild the devastated communities in Japan.
So here are some unique ways to support the relief efforts in Japan. Are you shopping around for any birthday presents? Who doesn't need a nice set of coasters, consider buying a set from UNICEF at just $9. Or you're in debt up to your eyeballs and giving isn't an option. Have you considered selling some things around your house. Right now, if you sell anything on eBay, you can designate a certain percentage go towards relief efforts in Japan. If giving or going are absolutely not options for you but you want to help, Samaritan's Purse has a prayer guide on their website.
