sadness

The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. from Barteby the Scrivener byHerman Melville, Writer, born in New York City, New York. Most widely known as author of American classic, Moby Dick.

I'm so sad about the whole Katrina tragedy. I don't know where to start, really. I've watched the images on TV all week, growing increasingly anxious myself and wondering why, in America, five days after a devastating storm, are there still people stranded without food and water and shelter. How can this possibly happen?

In my younger days, I would've felt sad for those people, but more than that, I would've simply been happy it wasn't me. That thought goes through my mind now, sure, but it's not enough to make me feel better. Today, I'm fasting because I can't think of anything else (besides prayer) that I can do right now. I feel useless and helpless and wish I could do more. Mike and I did what little we could on Tuesday and brought some blankets, water and fruit into one of the Red Cross' Shelters in town. And Mike has been to work by 5:30 for the past couple of days, getting his crews assembled to head to Louisiana. And we found out yesterday he may have to go next week. I'm proud that he's going to go and glad that one of us can do something, yet I'm anxious and scared and have a lingering uneasiness about what is going to happen in the weeks ahead. Our country feels unstable, our resources, understandably, tapped out and concentrated in one part of the country - I feel unsafe.

But I will have faith that once again goodness will prevail. I continue to pray for the heroes who are making a difference, for those who are desperate and hopeless, hungry, hot and tired. I pray for the babies who are going hungry, for the lost and forgotten animals and for the victims of the ever-increasing random acts of violence. And yes, I do pray for those wreaking havoc because, although it may be hard to understand, perhaps they need it the most.