What If? -- Musings on the Tsunami

Thumbing through Isaiah recently I was startled to find this: after a passage (in Isaiah 19) in which the prophet describes horrors that caused the hearts of the Egyptians to "melt within them," he predicts that "the people will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them." The next lines describe how three bitter enemies-Egypt, Assyria, and Israel-will "worship together" and how all three will become "a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.'" What a picture!

Like the ancient Egyptians, those who died in Southeast Asia on December 26 (and since then) are in God's hands. But among the living amazing things have happened. Will they last? In Sri Lanka, where a decades-old conflict has killed twice as many people as died in the tsunamis, Tamil Tigers and Sinhalese have joined forces in common relief efforts. So have Hindus and Muslims in India.

The United States has an unprecedented opportunity to embrace Muslims of many nations as the fellow humans they are, not only with disaster relief but with genuine compassion and generosity. The world has been struck; what would happen if we let God heal us? Why can't the miracle described in Isaiah 19 happen today? Why can't forgiveness and peace heal the wounds of today's wars-including the petty wars that fracture so many of our relationships?

What If

What if we grasped the moment that is now (don't ask me when; don't ask me how) and every person on the street became the most important one to meet?

What if the Hindu fishermen (the ones their Muslim neighbors sheltered in a mosque) called on all Indians of whatever faith to end sectarian strife?

What if the Tamil Tigers (who lost so many children in the waves) decided not to send any more child soldiers to fight their Sri Lankan war?

What if in the USA (tell me, why can't it happen today?) the Christians put their weapons away and disarmed their enemies with love?

What if the Laskar mujahedeen (who killed Christians on the Malukus) called on their brothers and sisters worldwide to embrace nonviolence and peace?

Why can't it happen now (while hands are helping and hearts are hurting) that we remove all obstacles to make this and much, much more possible?

Or will our hands and hearts and minds (united now in a common humanity) trade shovels, grief, and generosity for guns and greed and animosity?

What if we grasped the moment that is now (now we know when; now we know how) and not put off what we can do today for tomorrow, when all could be washed away?

You may reprint this article free of charge providing you use the following credit box: Article by Bill Wiser, a member of the Bruderhof - an international communal movement dedicated to a life of simplicity, service, sharing, and nonviolence. (http://www.bruderhof.com/).

---

The Moment of Truth

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to all of Israel,... Read More

What is Love?

Now many confuse love with admiration and most commonly sexual... Read More

The Bible ? Are Some of Its Words More Important Than Others?

Is the Old Testament equal in every way to the... Read More

Why Me

Why MeAs a Christian I feel the need to say... Read More

Is Buddhism A Religion?

Buddhism is a teaching which has spread worldwide absorbing the... Read More

The New Urban Christian

Who are these new Urban Christians? What's up with the... Read More

What Is The Most Important Righteous Requirement Of Gods Law?

To live "under the law" is to live under the... Read More

7 Bowl Judgements

There is now one more set of 7 judgments God... Read More

A Partnership With God

Hey, God is trying to partner with you! He wants... Read More

Can Jewish Americans Still Have Devout Catholic Friends?

America is dividing again. Jewish Americans are finding it hard... Read More

Union with Christ Unites Us to One Another

Jesus knew He would be abandonedOn the night He was... Read More

Jesus Christ: The First, The Last, The Eternal

Luke 17:20-17:24 Jesus Christ. The First, The Last, The Eternal.... Read More

While the World is on Fire

Revelation 8:8-8:9What will you be doing? How many people have... Read More

Jesus Our King: Priest Forever After The Order Of Melchizedek

Much confusion surrounds the person of one "Melchizedek" found in... Read More

As the Old Year Fades, So Does My Memory

Memory is a very tricky thing, at least for me... Read More

What Is Faith?

1. Faith is a "spiritual substance" on the inside of... Read More

Gods People Are Destroyed For Lack of Knowledge

These next two verses are extreme - and I mean... Read More

Serving

Some people may ask how do we serve God and... Read More

Prophetic Ministry: Affirmations From Scripture to Teach Us Who We Are In Christ

To learn who you are in Christ, you must know... Read More

The Stilling Of the Storm: In My View

Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.In my view, the significance... Read More

What about the 4400?

Murders are so frequent in our country that a single... Read More

A Comparison of ISLAM and CHRISTIANITY

Hi,(Salaam to You: Peace be Upon you) (What a great... Read More

Majesty Works

Webster's dictionary explains majesty meaning a title used to speaking... Read More

The Spreading of the Not-So-Good News

PART 1: Another Gospel?The influence of the occult upon our... Read More

Harry Potter To Christians: Its Not Good To Hear Voices

That is the popular and, thank God (if you'll pardon... Read More

The Oldest Concept in History

I find it funny that one of the oldest concepts... Read More

Lets Restore the Word of Christ

"What? Trying to spread the gospel message without quoting from... Read More

Reflections After The Tsunami Tragedy

Over the last few months hundreds of thousands of people... Read More

Housing Katrina Victims!

Information many have been looking for!On Franklin Graham's website for... Read More

Sealed With the Holy Spirit

At the moment of salvation when we accept Jesus as... Read More

A Time of Suffering

As the clock ticks down to the fateful day of... Read More

Jesus is Lord: Lets Stop Usurping His Roles

In five words Paul enunciates the basic principle of the... Read More

Let Her Be Covered Part One

Several weeks ago, while shopping in a grocery store, my... Read More