My apologies for redundancy, but we are lost if we allow the current state of affairs guise the situation in Japan as “normal”. Not in an effort to down your spirit, but in an attempt to fill it, for many (perhaps the Japanese version of you) sit in gyms and warehouses with a suitcase of their physical life laying next to them. However, something that I find inspiring is the optimism that lies within so many of them. More beautiful than any photograph I have or will ever create, is their strength, their character, their will. Life through the ground glass of this last month is so petty in America. To think that yesterday I griped about taxes, and the day before complained about our government’s inability to get anything done…. pathetic. I read this afternoon about a man that survived for three days on roof floating in the ocean that had lost his wife around day one. When interviewed he was happy to be alive, happy to take in breath, and happy to see what the next day offered.
I didn’t post this blog in an effort to bring guilt over the reader, but as an abstract way to remind you that self reflection is needed and context must be determined. Perhaps, you are not currently floating on a roof in the middle of the sea, but maybe there is some all-encompassing situation that promises to bring down life as you know it. I am not in any position to say, “oh, everything will be ok, and shiny happiness awaits you soon”, but I will say this….. you will need to be strong to make it through the storm, but when it has passed, be grateful for the next breath.
As I said earlier, now that the tsunami is over a month old, the news cycle seems to find it irrelevant in comparison to who got voted of American Idol, but I assure help is still just as important as those who were there the first day the sun rose over post tsunami Japan. Maybe you got a nice tax return, or the person in front of you bought your coffee, or maybe you’re just feeling a bit on the givey side…. I urge you, if any of these or many other like situations apply to you, give a little back to the Red Cross.
In the somewhat fleeting but applicable metaphorical closing statement, let me say this:
Any man or woman that has just been rescued from a floating rooftop needs not worry of gratitude for those that built the house, but rejoices in the compassion of those that rescued them from it.