Port-au-Prince, Hati -- before the earthquake
Inexpressible devastation — I have been in an earthquake, God. A 6.7 one only 9 miles from us. The FEAR that comes from being in an earthquake OVERFLOWS everyone’s cup. My mother still talks about one from her childhood that saw a local library slide into the ocean. And a family member who was over a 100 miles from Our Earthquake talked about it just as dramatically as we did.
I read somewhere that for every tenth of a point of the Richter scale the intensity doubles. DOUBLES. I want to put a question mark after that, but then again, it should be an explanation point! So, a 7.3 earthquake is SIX TIMES more powerful than the one I was in? Unimaginable.
But, to have an earthquake ON TOP OF unspeakable poverty? Or is it Your Way of getting our attention? And now that we have focused our attention on Haiti — what then? How to respond? How to help? Here is the World’s chance to “Grow Up”. As I have been writing, God, I could feel You increasing the rather small amount I was giving. I just went to Compassion and donated.
My heart is breaking, God. Where is the HOPE in Haiti? I know our hope is in YOU. But, it seems to me — even when I know we aren’t to be trying to make earth heaven — that Your command to care for our neighbors REQUIRES MORE OF US THAN WE ARE DOING!
Give money. Pray for HOPE. DO NOT WALK BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
Yes, God. YES! But, I want MORE. I WANT A MARSHALL PLAN TYPE RESPONSE! And, yes, I will pray for that. (For the young people, the Marshall Plan was for the systematic rebuilding of 16 European countries after the devastation of World War II.) Well, God, help me become the Change I want to see. Help me to step back and get a better perspective on how I live! Maybe even a Vision of how I can live? And then map out the systemic / infrastructure support I need!
We are all poor. Some have no hope. Some have no purpose. Some have no money. Let us all share what we have been given.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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