cyclone nargis (what we’d refer to as a hurricane here in louisiana) hit myanmar this past weekend, killing anywhere from 10,000-65,000 as far as the estimates i’ve read so far. that’s an astounding number of people killed - especially when you think that each of them was someone’s son, daughter, maybe someone’s mom or dad, brother or sister. and when you think that it is about 10-20 TIMES THE NUMBER THAT DIED IN KATRINA it is mind-blowing.
and i can hear some right now thinking but maybe not admitting to thinking it: “but that’s over there. katrina was here.” i understand that when something hits close to home, we have a deeper level of sympathy. but we cannot tolerate that kind of thought to morph (as it so easily and often can) into a seed of the mindset that “we” are any ounce of a shred of even being slightly more important to God than “they” are. we (”us” and “them”) are all His creation and He loves each of us and sent His own son to die for us. one of “them” is just as precious to Him as i am - one of “their” children is as passionately loved by God as my own kids are.
don’t let the big numbers swell in your mind and numb you to the fact that there are a whole lot of hurting people in myanmar right now.
pray for myanmar. and let God speak to you about what else He’d have you do to help.
here’s a link to more about the cyclone and one ministry that is working hard to make a difference in the middle of it all: gospel for asia
Also pray that the government will open up the borders and let aid come in. Last I heard they still were not letting anyone in to help and the military was not helping either.
I prayer and will continue to do so. Sad but I had to look up on a map where Burmah was, now I know.