Inside, Outside, Upside Down

A friend of mine posted a sobering reminder of how fragile life is. She was deeply moved in response to the folks in Kansas who lost everything to Tornadoes this weekend. It seems like every region has it's own variation of unpredictable catastrophic destruction; Hurricanes on the Gulf, Tsunamis, earthquakes, fires... Quite simply, the world isn't a forgiving place to be. It's difficult not to become calloused to it.

How can I have sincere compassion and not lose my mind??? I know there isn't an easy answer to this question, one that has been wrestled with for all of time. To survive, I'll pray, I'll look for tangible ways to help others. I'll try to focus on the things that are important, and not worry about that which I cannot control.

Pondering all the ways that a person's life can be turned upside down in an instant also reminded me to thank God for what I have: my wife, my children, my home, my health, my friends, to name a few of the more important ones. I want to be like the Apostle Paul, content whatever the situation:

"for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phil 4: 11-13

I couldn't help it, but this topic also brought to mind a song by the Kingston Trio. Hopefully, it won't be taken the wrong way!

The Merry Minuet
They're rioting in Africa,
They're starving in Spain.
There's hurricanes in Florida,
And Texas needs rain
The whole world is festering
With unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans,
The Germans hate the Poles;
Italians hate Yugoslavs,
South Africans hate the Dutch,
And I don't like anybody very much!

But we can be tranquil
And thankfill and proud,
For man's been endowed
With a mushroom-shaped cloud.
And we know for certain
That some lovely day
Someone will set the spark off,
And we will all be blown away!

They're rioting in Africa,
There's strife in Iran.
What nature doesn't do to us
Will be done by our fellow man!