tsunami

this has truly been the year of disasters. in particular, the asian countries. it's like blow after blow after blow.

nature strikes, and we are reminded that we don't control it. we are reminded of our mortality--our frailty. sure, we could have lessened the damage through decent early-warning devices in the Indian Ocean, but lives and livelihood would still have been lost. the images we have seen on television have been heartbreaking: the loss is staggering. i can't even begin to describe it. whole families are lost, and the ones who survived have no means of continuing their economic survival and have to depend on the charity of others.

as sad as i am about the tragedies, i am awed by the human response, the capacity for compassion. no matter how many times i see it, i am struck with wonder.

death comes in bulk once more.