As Geoffrey and I watch the disaster continue to unfold in Japan, there is almost nothing that I can imagine that could be worse. My heart aches for this nation and for those who have loved ones who are unaccounted for, or who are known to be deceased. It is almost impossible to fathom how people are coping with chaos and disaster beyond anything we would have believed possible. In many ways, we have so much to learn about how to treat people in times of disaster and crisis.
When you learn that multiple nuclear reactors are blowing and thousands of people are being evacuated, you just wonder how long it will take to bring these reactors under control and what the long term damage will be to the health of those who are exposed. It is daunting to learn that the reactors were built to withstand the earthquake – and they did stand even in a 9.0 earthquake, but the flood waters from the sonami and the loss of power has taken them to this state of disaster. It is unimaginable to think that the nuclear reactors in our country could also melt down in states that have uncontrollable flooding. (Is this true? Anderson Cooper says it is!) Living in a state with five nuclear reactors, this certainly makes you begin to wonder how vulnerable we are. But then again, it is at times like this when we see an entire country brought to their knees, we are reminded of how vulnerable we truly are.
Geoffrey and I went to the beach today. I looked at the waves rolling in differently today and could not help but think about the sonami in Japan. The winds were blowing hard and the surf was high. It was the first time Lil Kili has gone to the beach since we rescued him. Kili was so unsettled by the size of the waves and the enormity of the ocean he stood behind me. We love the ocean so much and many times I have walked along the sandy beach to help find a feeling that all is right in the world. Today sadly, it’s beauty was not enough to make all things right in the world.
Kili finally slept safely in Geoffrey's arms as we sat at the beach
We pray for those who are in the midst of chaos and danger. We pray that the after shocks will cease and that there will be no sonami in this region. We pray that the danger from the nuclear plants will be brought under control very soon and will not worsen. We pray that this nation of graceful people will continue to find strength in the days ahead. We pray that somehow there will be a sense of peace within the hearts of all who have loved ones in Japan, and those who are suffering and will continue to suffer this terrible misfortune for a very long time. pkp
Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. Helen Keller
