One Year After

While I do still intend to post the other part of "he knew", considering the date, I felt led to share this tidbit.

January 12th, 2011. It has been one year since Haiti was hit by that massive quake. One year since so many lives were lost. One year since a country was, for lack of a better word, destroyed. Although many would say that Haiti was destroyed even before the quake hit.

A year ago, all you saw on the news and in popular media was the plight of those in Haiti. Today, on the one year anniversary of that event, you will see some. But in between, there has been little interest. Except from the Church, that is.

Before the quake, there were many from the Church who were in Haiti trying to help the people there. After that day in 2010, there were even more, including those who were there before. The Church answered the call immediately. No long strands of red tape, or big talk with little action or empty promises that are still unfulfilled. No. Those who felt led and called answered and continue to answer. Many have never stopped going back and forth. Many still pledge every cent they can muster to aid for Haiti. And it should be noted that, for the most part, these members of the Body have paid their own ways.

There are many people who look at the Church and say things about it being just a "cash grab" or a "means of controlling". Some of these people are the same ones who ease their conscience by dropping the 17 cents change from their coffee in a Haitian relief box on the counter while they go on about their lives as self absorbed as ever (that is not to say that "all" outside the Church fall into that range). But to those who look at the Church in that light I would like to point out a few things.

1) The Christian Church on mass responded and continues to respond to the destruction in Haiti. They raise funds on their own or empty their bank accounts to go to that disaster zone.

2) Many who go leave with several bags and return with the clothes on their back having left everything behind with those who need it far more than they. The same can be said for any funds they had with them as they spend what they have taken down in an effort to help buy food and supplies for those who are broken.

3) For the most part, those who travel back and forth have families and lives here that they leave behind while they are gone. Considering the environment that they are going to, it takes a great deal for them to go sometimes.

4) Having known people who have gone and are still there, I know that many go down and work hard physical labor from sun up to dark, every day they are there. This is not what we tend to consider as hard labor, no this is a step well above that. And they do it for no pay, rather, they do it to help those who need it.

5) The Church is made up of people, and people are flawed. Sometimes there are people who do not have the best of intentions that go to Haiti under a church banner. Do not judge the Body based upon them. They are the exception, not the norm.

6) While popular media forgot all about Haiti after the "next big thing" came along, the Church did not and continues even today give whatever they can to help those in dire need.

7) Last but not least. Those of the Church (that is, the Body of Christ) who have gone and continue to go and give and serve selflessly do not (for the most part) do so to ease their conscience or to make themselves feel good or better. Nor do they go in an attempt to earn something or some kind of extra favor. They go because they feel led and called by God to do so. They go because God loves them and they want to share that love - not by spouting scripture at people but rather, by serving those in need. Not because of a matter of conscience, but because of a matter of faith.

*I would like to note that my reference to "the Church" is not a reference to a specific denomination nor is it to a building. It is to the "Body of Christ" - that is, those who believe and have put their faith in Christ Jesus.

For those of the Body who read, please keep all our Brothers and Sisters in prayer - both those who travel as well as those who live in Haiti.