look in their eyes....

the recent earthquake in haiti is overwhelming. the images that we are no able to see are sobering. the reality of suffering is suddenly so vivid.

as christians we have both the privilege and responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus at all times but in the midst of such suffering it seems especially important. it is estimated that over 3 million people have been directly affected by this tragedy. reports this morning said the death toll would most likely climb into the hundreds of thousands.

children have lost their parents

parents have held the limp and lifeless bodies of their children

homes and businesses have been destroyed

life as they once knew it has been forever altered

yesterday i received a link to photographs of the suffering. the label warned me that some of the images were graphic but i felt compelled to click on it anyway. my heart broke as a result of what i saw. it didn't take long until i wanted to click on the x and close the window. i knew if i clicked on the window the images would go away and i wouldn't have to acknowledge their suffering. with a click on the x i could go back to my life....my routine....but something told me to look more closely. something told me to look in their eyes. something told me to appreciate their pain. something told me not to click because their pain couldn't be removed that easily. and so i looked at every picture....at every person....and found myself broken.

i hope you will spend some time looking at the pictures. i think it will be good for your soul, albeit uncomfortable, to look into someone else's pain. it will do us all good to know that ignoring their suffering doesn't take it away.

after you look i also hope you will respond.

respond by:

praying......fervently and often that those who are on the ground will be the light of Christ in their darkness.

giving....connect with Compassion International, World Vision, Texas Baptist Men...connect with someone who has the ability to take them the supplies they need to survive.

going....prepare yourself to be ready to go if and when it becomes possible.

look into their eyes.... http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/photos/photos_galleries/haiti_earthquake/#/2