Light After the Storm

Five words sum up the huge task facing hundreds if not thousands of families devastated by a barrage of storms hitting our the country lately."WE HAVE TO START AGAIN." Stripped of their houses and belongings, they face daunting questions: Where will we live? How do we replace possessions? How can we rebuild homes and lives?

We have had harrowing experiences and sustained huge losses and we all know firsthand the severity of the challenge. But we have also learned that out of devastation and destruction and floods, we can help each other and can rise a new life - often radically different, but one with new perspectives and reordered priorities.

Our people who have had this forced on them to make changes,and in the process of doing this, we must discover a better version of ourselves. And must exploit and use our innate and different skills and abilities to rise up amidst the adversities. We must learn from our past lessons and move on this time with great respect for the environment,for ourselves forget self interests and rise up as one nation. We must must never give up hope.

Although holding on to hope during such a difficult time as many are now experiencing is not easy. The temptation is to give in to the pain and suffering, forgetting that every experience of seeming darkness has light within it. What light, you might wonder, exists within the suffering from the wake of from the storms which hit our country Love,Hope and Faith. Never have I experienced a crisis within my own life, or within the world, that hasn't triggered support, compassion and love, this is what we need as a people and this is what we need as citizens of this country. As Mahatma Gandhi wisely stated, "When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won." The media may not be focusing on the truth and love, but that doesn't mean it's not there. Holding on to hope means remembering that we are all one and crisis and suffering join us together each of us, no matter how "small" our effort or contribution may seem, makes a huge difference; suffering is part of our human experience and allows us to become more compassionate people only the love is real. Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists, herein lies the peace of God.