Is Awareness Enough?
Yesterday a tragedy took place. the people of Haiti are facing one of the largest disasters in their history. Death, destruction and obvious chaos for those still living there. I read some really thoughtful posts regarding the situation. Many with options of getting involved. Some with confusion on what to do. Others with a reminder to at least pray. Even some that have spoken against Haiti, as if they deserved this tragedy.
I wanted to speak to one aspect of thought in this. When we are faced with these situations, we are often left in confusion. Not knowing what to do. This can take on different forms. Some people choose to release the thought and forget about it. Some choose to get involved. Some may find themselves in between in a state of, “I dont know what to do”. I want to speak to that.
Is awareness enough? Is it ok, to not lift a finger to a tragedy as this and still be comfortable? Is it enough to just pray? Yes and no, but in all of it…action needs to take place.
“Is awareness enough?” – This can be one of two things.
Maybe you have just been made aware of what’s going on. You’ve read some articles, seen some pictures. But this is where it ends.
Or, you can now take your knowledge of the situation, including options of involvement, and you let others know what they can do to participate in helping others during this time.
“Is it ok, to not lift a finger to a tragedy as this and still be comfortable?”
There are many that have no choice. Health, location, finances. There may still be some practical things they can do, but it will be unlikely that physical involvement will be a part of this.
But, If you are physically capable of being involved. Being that locally or in Haiti…get involved. With gathering items in need. With financial contribution. With phone calls, emails and prayer!
“Is it enough to just pray”
It should be the first thing we do. Prayer for healing, safety. Prayer for an understanding of how to be involved. Prayer for open doors that you can walk through to help others. Prayer for those already helping and in need of strength. this list can go on and on.
But, don’t stop with prayer. Understanding the physical/financial limitations we may have. Still involve yourself. Make others aware. Resource others with info, items of need. Whatever you can do. Don’t stop with prayer.
Here’s the bottom line for me.
-Be generous with what you have to give. That may be something physical, it may be something spiritual.
-Be active in understanding the situation and seeing how you can be involved. From the little(Twitter, Email, Phone), to the big (Finances, items of need, on the ground).
-Be hopeful. This is not a time to feel guilty for what you can or cannot do. And it is not a time to extend guilt to others, if, in our minds, they have not done enough. This time is not about us. It is about those in Haiti…which leads to…
-Be unselfish. This is not our tragedy, it is there’s. Let us be merciful and gracious in dealing with each other and those in need. Let us be patient. Let us be resourceful and active. We have much to offer and to give, both physically and spiritually. Give it.
On a practical level, here are some options for getting involved. There are many great resources, but be cautious. Many people will look to take your resources or money for their own gain. Know where your goods and money are going before you give them. Otherwise Haiti, will never receive it.
Seek out local/regional church and care organizations looking for help. Someone in town may already be doing and be better equipped for what you are trying to do. Join forces.
Because of the degrees of separation on Twitter and Facebook, we all inevitably know someone who is there or headed there. Find out who they are. Listen to what they are doing and get involved with what they are asking for. Here is someone I am following, because of my twitter connections. Troy Livesay
Nine Ways to get Involved – from Mashable
There are many more. If you have other options of involvement, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Finally, I have to say, that many of my thoughts came out of a great conversation I had with Tammy today. And then an extended conversation on Twitter with a great friend. This post originally was intended to be more of a hashing out of those thoughts. I still think there is a place for that, but as I wrote this out, my heart was drawn more to action at this point, rather than conversation.
I couldn’t agree more with what you said here. You did a good job bringing it all together in a practical sense.
dubdynomite´s last blog ..Help Haiti
What great action with words! And you did such a great service with how you laid it out. Simple things. It doesn’t have to be huge. Being unemployed for over a year is nothing compared to what happened there. And it certainly didn’t happen because the Haitian people made a pact with the devil. Goodness. I guess there will be those who add to the confusion & chaos. However unintentional. Be smart with donations. Brent has listed 3 that I would not have trouble donating to.
But, the other the I think, is NOT to put it on the shelf & forget about it. Disasters happen everyday. We need to be ready to jump into action on a daily basis. Through prayer. Through connections. Through sweat. This one will be forgotten and then the next one will be looming in the distance.
This is an unpredictable rock we live on. It can be calm & beautiful or rocking & tragic. But, it is God’s World and He is always there to comfort the people of this Earth. Always.
Shellie (baylormum)´s last blog ..Stats Suck Sunday
Dang… I was all ready to have a nice debate with you, but turns out I already had it with Tam =)
Sorry, dude, we’re all on the same page already =)
joshua´s last blog ..Haiti
and tam won.
as you were….
Ya, what she said
This was a great post, Brent. All I want to say is that, while reading a lot of tweets today, as much as I was grateful I was surrounded by caring people trying to help those in Haiti, I also felt kicked in the gut by the amount of judgement tragedy tends to bring out as well. Pat Robertson’s comments were awful, but so were the judgments about who was doing what to help. Maybe instead of deciding whether or not other people are doing enough, praying enough, giving enough, we could all just look at our own situations and decide what we are able to do. And then live by example.
gitz´s last blog ..Blog Peep Questions: Christmas Edition
Im with you Gitz. We have limitations. Sometimes they are inevitable, sometimes they can be changed. But we have to be comfortable with that.
And, others, do not determine what it is we can or cannot do. We do that for ourselves.
People can also give donations to:
http://www.samaritanspurse.com
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf
I agree, by the way. Prayer should be a first point of contact, not a last. Not only to intercede for people, but also for crystallization of the initial ‘what can I do to help?’ thoughts. God can intervene in a way that people can’t, but there’s no excuse for us to sit back.
Like I tweeted earlier – if you can, do. If you can’t, get out of the way. When tragedy strikes, a lot of people get involved when, quite frankly, they are a strain on resources and obstruct those who can actually make a difference. Having worked for NFP orgs before (ie, the two I’ve listed here!) and having a friend who works for AUSAID, I’ve heard horror stories of people expecting special treatment, food & accommodation hen they go to ‘help’. Anyway, that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I keep going back to one thing – we can’t do everything, but we can do SOMETHING.
“Give it.” Thanks for this post. You nailed it.
Candy´s last blog ..Recharging
Thanks for your balanced perspective on both prayer and action. I already left my comments along those lines on Tammy’s post.
I must admit though, I ‘acted’ before I even prayed by donating online as soon as I received word of it through Samaritan’s purse. Some things are just a ‘given’ if you have the means to help (i.e. there’s no logical reason God wouldn’t want you to – 1 Jn. 3:17-18).
But I can’t say I emptied our bank account (or went into debt in the process), so wisdom and clear direction re: further help/donations will be a continuing matter of prayer (as well as for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in/to the people most affected there).
Right now, I’m willing to do more if/when He brings other opportunities our way, and definitely pray for those who are His ‘hands and feet’ to go and use the funds for His greatest glory and the Haitians greatest good.
D-
Great thought D
This is an excellent post!!! I appreciate the challenge and hope that many accept it.
Check out my blog today for a few thoughts that I had about this tragic situation.
Nicole´s last blog ..When We Are All Equal
That is the hope Nicole. Thanks!