A lot of times, though, this frustration is with myself. Here I am leading a comfortable life, failing to bring any positive change in the lives of the hurting. On Saturday, I spent my day with a community that I love, worshiping Jesus and goofing off. Meanwhile, in Nepal and neighboring countries, a massive earthquake destroyed the homes and lives of thousands of people. Because I happened to be born into huge amounts of privilege, I didn't have to hear about it and remained unaware of the disaster until the following day. Even then, I felt a disconnect. If I wanted, I could pretend the earthquake was not real. Because I was unaffected by the shifting of the earth's plates, I could also be unaffected by the crumbling of human lives.
There is so much guilt that accompanies the disconnect I feel between myself and the people of Nepal. Sometimes, this guilt is so overwhelming that I want to give up hope in Christianity, in my faith. Because of this, I yearn to feel the suffering of those the earthquake has affected. And yet, I can never fully experience that pain.
This is why I thank Jesus for dying on the cross. Even though I can't suffer with those in Nepal, Jesus has suffered, and he continues to suffer as he sees his children bear their crosses. His death on the cross reminds me that my beliefs are not disconnected. They are not irrelevant to the world and the pain in the world. As the Nepalese anguish, so too did Jesus anguish. And no, that doesn't make the tragedy in Nepal okay. I am certain that those touched by the earthquake are still hopeless. But it helps to remember that, hanging on the cross, Jesus was also hopeless, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Immanuel. God with us. God is with Nepal.
...
3600 dead. Over 6500 injured. Over 1 million displaced. Pray for Nepal.
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