Death by Drowning
This is my worst nightmare. It was reality for 80,000 people in Asia, from Somalia to Indonesia. I wonder how many lives could have been saved by forewarning of the impending disaster. We’ll never know.
I just try to imagine what it was like for the victims. Some were probably watching the strange sky and water when they were just swallowed up. Others were probably in their homes completely ignorant of what would befall them. Did their hearts stop as the water overwhelmed them? Or did they struggle to swim to the light? Did any think that man could really do battle with this unfathomable force of nature? I picture families being separated by the water, with children screaming on the shore as their parents were carried away, or parents reaching out to save their children as the water consumed them.
When disasters of this scale occur, it is almost as though nature takes on an evil persona. Is this God’s way of reminding us that we are simply mortals in a cosmos of forces much more powerful? I’m sure the people of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and all of the other countries are asking why they were victimized. Why is it that countries like the USA and Britain and Norway and so many other industrialized nations never know this scale of disaster?
One of my employees, Arumugam, is from Sri Lanka. I spoke to him today from home to find out if his family survived the devouring water. His brother's family live less than 2 miles from the coast. They sat on their roof and watched the water come within half a mile of their home. They survived but many of Aru's long-time friends perished. How is it decided who will live and who will die?
My hope is that all of the victims of this tsunami will know peace in their next lives because their recent demise had to be a living hell.
I just try to imagine what it was like for the victims. Some were probably watching the strange sky and water when they were just swallowed up. Others were probably in their homes completely ignorant of what would befall them. Did their hearts stop as the water overwhelmed them? Or did they struggle to swim to the light? Did any think that man could really do battle with this unfathomable force of nature? I picture families being separated by the water, with children screaming on the shore as their parents were carried away, or parents reaching out to save their children as the water consumed them.
When disasters of this scale occur, it is almost as though nature takes on an evil persona. Is this God’s way of reminding us that we are simply mortals in a cosmos of forces much more powerful? I’m sure the people of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and all of the other countries are asking why they were victimized. Why is it that countries like the USA and Britain and Norway and so many other industrialized nations never know this scale of disaster?
One of my employees, Arumugam, is from Sri Lanka. I spoke to him today from home to find out if his family survived the devouring water. His brother's family live less than 2 miles from the coast. They sat on their roof and watched the water come within half a mile of their home. They survived but many of Aru's long-time friends perished. How is it decided who will live and who will die?
My hope is that all of the victims of this tsunami will know peace in their next lives because their recent demise had to be a living hell.
posted by Barbara at 2:18 PM
2 Comments:
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And, why is drowning your worst nightmare? Could it be that your mother instilled a strong fear of water? Just a guess.
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