Upside Down
January 15, 2010 5 Comments
I live in a little city called North Augusta, SC. You’ll find it on Google Maps if you click the zoom button enough times. North Augusta is where I’ve lived all my life. I grew up in a church that is part of the cityscape. I now go to church in the facilities I went to high school in. I’ve taken many walks in Riverview Park. I remember when the arrival of a Walmart Supercenter was a big deal. North Augusta is my home.
What I have a hard time imagining is what would happen if all of my surroundings were turned upside down. What if some of the landmarks of the city crumbled to the ground? What if a majority of the people I know lost their homes instantly? What would it be like if every street I went on in North Augusta was filled with devastation?
That is the harsh reality thousands are facing in Haiti today. What the people of Port-au-Prince call home is for the most part destroyed. Many have lost family members in the tragedy that is presently in existence. They are going through this where they call home.
I can’t picture spending one night in the street, and many are living this way. There are people tirelessly looking for their family and people who have been notified their families are gone.
Imagine if your world was turned upside down. That is the reality in Haiti. What you’re seeing is real. These people are breathing the same air you are. Those who were killed as a result of the damage are as precious as the person you love the most. God made us all. Would you do everything you could for those closest to you? Do what you can for these people.
About Matt Ames
Wow Matt. You really put that into perspective. I quit watching the news a while back (After watching the horror of 9-11, watching the war in Iraq daily and watching as children were kidnapped and murdered). I just got so disenchanted and troubled that I detached myself from world problems. When terrible things like this happen, its easy to let the distance make it seem unreal… but, what if that was our area, our parents, our children… Does your church have any programs in action to help? I’d like to help.
Bre, thank you for the comment–it’s great hearing from you! Presently, my church is asking for people to help our ministry partner, Water Missions International, in their relief efforts. Here is the link with more information about ways to help: http://www.watermissions.org/devastating-quake-strikes-haiti.
Thanks Matt for these great comments! We need to make it personal to be able to even begin to understand the horror. See ya soon at TNC!
Thank you for bringing it closer to home! I never think about the fragility of life until something like this happens, and even then I tend to keep it arms distance.
It’s a horriable thought to know life as you know it could be gone in a split second. Thats why we should live life as though it was our last day, love each other more, have compassion for others and praise God while we can. Thats what we should do but instead we let all our little things get in the way even we don’t offer our praise as much. Maybe this happening will shake us up enough to get our selves right with God and others. Maybe??
Great start Matt !