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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like fish in a net or birds in a trap." (Ecclesiastes 9:12)
The person who is ceaselessly aware and ever
vigilant saves his/her life!
The maturity of a person is measured by the awareness of who he is, where he is,
and where he is heading to. We are living in a world of disasters. Earthquakes,
tsunamis, wars, bombs, nuclear disaster, betrayals, feuds, deadly diseases etc.,
are all part of our daily lives. Constant awareness of our surroundings and
being ever-vigilant are the precautions required for us to survive and move on.
Then the death toll will be minimum like in Japan recently than in Indonesia a
few years ago even though the intensity of the earthquake and tsunami were
higher in Japan. The 'let it be' attitude is very dangerous.
"Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion,
prowling around to find someone to attack" (Peter 5:8). For Roman Catholics, the
40-day lent commences on Ash Wednesday by applying the ash on foreheads by the
priest saying the word '"Remember that you are dust and dust you shall return."
Being aware and vigilant of our surroundings also applies in all our spiritual
and physical lives. Soul-eating and destructive cultures are affecting people
all over the world. So our children, parents, sisters and brothers should be
protected and warned about the dangers that lie ahead in their daily lives.
Zahrul Fuadi, 39, is perhaps unique in surviving 2 of the biggest Tsunamis in
recent history- killing 220,000 people in Aceh, Indonesia in 2004, and 11,000+
till now in Sendai, Japan in 2011. In the Aceh disaster, he and his family only
escaped in time by piling on a small motorbike and riding up to the hills. Then,
he moved to Tohoku University in Sendai to complete his doctorate. "I was on the
3rd floor attending a seminar when the earthquake and tsunami happened. It's a
sharp contrast to when the disaster happened in Indonesia where most Acehnese,
even a well learned scholar like Mr. Fuadi, had never heard of the word tsunami,
and had no idea of the dangers it could bring. Compared to the level of
preparedness there was in Japan, he said that there was little planning and
little information in Indonesia. "Any place in the world has its own risk of
disasters. If you go on the road, a car could strike you. There is always danger
everywhere," he said. He says, " warning signs and awareness of the place you
live saves lives."
"Don't come closer. Take off your sandals, the ground where you are standing is
holy" (Exodus 3:5). Always cling to God. Get rid of everything that slows down
our vigor and enthusiasm, especially the sin that just won't let go. Always be
aware that we are not for this disastrous earth but for the heavenly kingdom of
God.
Jesus, let us be aware of our surroundings and the hidden dangers ahead of us. Let us have warning signs about the calamities that are going to happen to individuals and the society as a whole. Save the world from natural calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis. We pray for the victims in Japan and Indonesia. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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