After the triple disaster in March, with the earthquake, tsunamis, and the crisis at the nuclear power plant, with the ongoing suffering and anxiety surrounding these events, it is easy to fall into a state of despair and become overwhelmed, resulting in being unable to do anything. But there is another side of this tragedy, one which has the capacity to bring healing to our way of life.
There is the unprecedented, ongoing massive donations – money and material goods – of millions of people who care. There is the heroism of the workers at the Fukushima plant, risking their lives to grant others security and a regained sense of peace. There are rescue workers and innumerable people waiting to volunteer, to help those in need in whatever way they can. It is at times like this that our true humanity surfaces, as we feel the terrible pains of those affected. The suffering transforms into more caring and giving lives. our lives The question is how to keep this spirit in our everyday lives.
Keep frequently recall the sense of shock which you felt when you saw the first images of the tsunami and the suffering which the good people of Tohoku endured. Remember how your heart melted, wishing to do anything in your capacity to help. Keep that feeling and stay with it. Let it guide you to do something now, however small, and in the future. By living in such a spirit, we have the capacity to make a better society, one based on sharing and caring. This disaster can very possibly lead Japan to feel a sense of futility or, if we choose, it can plant the seed of compassion and move us towards increased acts of goodness to the victims of the quake, and to the victims of all who suffer from the scourges of nature and of other people.
May we be able to live in the spirit of this woman’s words:
When I grow older, I am going to tell my children and grandchildren, “When your grandma was young, there was a big earthquake in Japan which brought the world together as one. And everyone worked so hard to help support each other. To be able to tell that story, I’m going to work hard in rebuilding that work.
