Human beings together

It is extremely hard for me to believe that January 16 is here already. My last post was January 1...had I made a New Resolutions, which blissfully I didn't, it would have been to blog daily! So much has happened already, wonderful visits by phone and internet with friends and family, wishing health and happiness in 2010. Slogging through the cold and snow, and enjoying the most brilliant blue skys and sunshine. Death and birth, laughter and tears all within the span of a few days time.

Reading a reflection this morning by Fr. Ed Hay he included this verse from the Persian Muslim poet-mystic Saadi Shirazi:


Human beings are all members of one body.
They are created by the same essence.
When one is in pain, the others cannot rest.
If you do not care about the pain of others,
You do not deserve to be called a human being.

As my husband and I celebrated a belated anniversary dinner last evening, we gave thanks for our lives together and all that is good in our life, including with our prayers of thanks our concern for the survivors in Haiti. The devastation there is overwhelming and it is difficult to stand by helpless. This verse by Saadi Shirazi highlighted for me what I believe many of us are experiencing. Thank God we are human beings, and that restlessness tugs at the soul as we are bombarded with the images of sadness and desolation. I urge those who read my blog to do one small thing to aid the Haitian people - give money, pray, support any local effort and remember how blest you are.

Our world is small and this is a reminder that we are all interconnected whether we recognize it or not. May we enlarge our hearts and minds as we learn what it is to be fully human.