What a wonderful world
I have refrained from commenting much about the recent spate of storms, earthquakes and tsunami's that have occurred recently around the world. The news has revealed stories of pain, anguish, loss and heartbreak, my heart has been full. I think at times I am so very fortunate. Stories of friends and people we know who have suffered the loss of all their possessions in the Philippines, and the people with whom we associate who have friends and loved ones in Samoa who have had a tsunami rip through their little part of the world with devastating consequences, and then in Padang, Indonesia to learn that they have had two quakes in the last 30 hours with a death toll ever on the increase. It has a sense of being too big to do anything about all the devastation, but I have friends who have mobilised and gotten together food hampers in the Philippines and with a team of volunteers have been doing much to help. A team of people in Australia, because Samoa is a very small island nation close to Australia, are mobilising, along with the government to send aid, tents, blankets, food and water on behalf of the people here. Red Cross are taking donations and it is big.
One thing that I particularly admire about people generally when a calamity or event happens that causes so much pain and devastation, is the way people so quickly proceed to help. It seems that these are the times when we see the absolute best in people.
Some have argued in recent days, "Why does God allow this to happen?" my inner thoughts are "why not?". Yes this thought will be controversial and I certainly mean no offense by saying it, but when you analyse even briefly the perspicacity of the human spirit, the desire to reach out and help, it seems that in these pointed and difficult times, human traits and a connectedness come lovingly to the surface, which in a world that is constantly pitting people against each other is so very refreshing and needed.
I have been in the Philippines in the middle of a bad typhoon that killed several hundred people in the visayan region some years ago, and i will not forget the feeling I had to join with people I had never known previously and offer assistance and genuine care to people who had become dispossessed of their houses, contents, families and loved ones. It is and was then, a feeling you can scarce describe. One gets a glimpse, perhaps ideologically, of what the world could be like if we all really cared about our neighbour, really looked out for one another and really showed each other that we cared. We would I suspect then see an end to hunger, an end to war, an end to rage of most applications and a world that we see only in the face of hardship and extreme be the norm. I would love to live in a world like this.
I love the indomitable spirit of the human condition, the will to survive and the desire to rebuild, bigger, better. We are, and can become, truly exceptional people when we put our minds and hearts to it.
This month, of October, in Australia we celebrate research into, and fundraising for, Breast Cancer research, and to see people yesterday mobilise and really dig deep to help this effort was also amazing. There are so many charities who need funding, there are so many good causes that are crying to be noticed it can seem somewhat overwhelming, but I have chosen 5 charities which I assist with my time, money and talents. The Down Syndrome association, Autistic and Special needs children, The Sydney Childrens's hospital, The CMRI, Breast Cancer awareness. I list these not to say hey look at me, but more to share my honour in being associated with organisations that do much to make life better for other people. It helps make me feel that my efforts are part of a much bigger circle of care.
With it's Joys, stresses and strains, I am grateful for life, grateful for my experiences, for friends, for family, for joys and for heartaches, perhaps seen at times through rose coloured glasses, I do think this is "A Wonderful World". I am so happy I have had the chance to be here. I have no plans to go anywhere yet, but suffice it to say I have been again faced with my own mortality of sorts in the past week or two and it has hit me like a freight train, but there are people worse off than I. It has made me re-think what is most important, to me.
ONE LITTLE CANDLE
(George Mysels / J. Maloy Roach)
It's better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark
Better far that you light just one little candle
All you need's a tiny spark
If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
The wonderful dawn on the new day we'll see
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be
(Let's all light one little candle
Why stumble on in the dark)
When the day is dark and dreary
And your way is hard to find
Don't let your heart be weary
Just keep this thought in mind
(It is better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark
Better far to light just one little candle
All you need's a tiny spark)
If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
The wonderful dawn of the new day we'll see
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be
What a bright world this would be
One thing that I particularly admire about people generally when a calamity or event happens that causes so much pain and devastation, is the way people so quickly proceed to help. It seems that these are the times when we see the absolute best in people.
Some have argued in recent days, "Why does God allow this to happen?" my inner thoughts are "why not?". Yes this thought will be controversial and I certainly mean no offense by saying it, but when you analyse even briefly the perspicacity of the human spirit, the desire to reach out and help, it seems that in these pointed and difficult times, human traits and a connectedness come lovingly to the surface, which in a world that is constantly pitting people against each other is so very refreshing and needed.
I have been in the Philippines in the middle of a bad typhoon that killed several hundred people in the visayan region some years ago, and i will not forget the feeling I had to join with people I had never known previously and offer assistance and genuine care to people who had become dispossessed of their houses, contents, families and loved ones. It is and was then, a feeling you can scarce describe. One gets a glimpse, perhaps ideologically, of what the world could be like if we all really cared about our neighbour, really looked out for one another and really showed each other that we cared. We would I suspect then see an end to hunger, an end to war, an end to rage of most applications and a world that we see only in the face of hardship and extreme be the norm. I would love to live in a world like this.
I love the indomitable spirit of the human condition, the will to survive and the desire to rebuild, bigger, better. We are, and can become, truly exceptional people when we put our minds and hearts to it.
This month, of October, in Australia we celebrate research into, and fundraising for, Breast Cancer research, and to see people yesterday mobilise and really dig deep to help this effort was also amazing. There are so many charities who need funding, there are so many good causes that are crying to be noticed it can seem somewhat overwhelming, but I have chosen 5 charities which I assist with my time, money and talents. The Down Syndrome association, Autistic and Special needs children, The Sydney Childrens's hospital, The CMRI, Breast Cancer awareness. I list these not to say hey look at me, but more to share my honour in being associated with organisations that do much to make life better for other people. It helps make me feel that my efforts are part of a much bigger circle of care.
With it's Joys, stresses and strains, I am grateful for life, grateful for my experiences, for friends, for family, for joys and for heartaches, perhaps seen at times through rose coloured glasses, I do think this is "A Wonderful World". I am so happy I have had the chance to be here. I have no plans to go anywhere yet, but suffice it to say I have been again faced with my own mortality of sorts in the past week or two and it has hit me like a freight train, but there are people worse off than I. It has made me re-think what is most important, to me.
ONE LITTLE CANDLE
(George Mysels / J. Maloy Roach)
It's better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark
Better far that you light just one little candle
All you need's a tiny spark
If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
The wonderful dawn on the new day we'll see
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be
(Let's all light one little candle
Why stumble on in the dark)
When the day is dark and dreary
And your way is hard to find
Don't let your heart be weary
Just keep this thought in mind
(It is better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark
Better far to light just one little candle
All you need's a tiny spark)
If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
The wonderful dawn of the new day we'll see
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be
What a bright world this would be
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