As of today, news agencies are reporting that the number of those lost in the Haitian earthquake has reached the number of those who died in the Asian Tsunami of 2004.
Who can measure the loss of one—let alone 230,000 and counting…
And why them and not us?
Only God knows why we are still alive… and why so many others, who were already so destitute, have been taken.
With so many emotions, am reminded of the Psalm that says,
“I said in my prosperity, ‘I will never be moved.’ By your favor, O LORD You made my mountain (i.e. place of refuge) stand strong…”
Then, without warning, the mood of the song changes.
Without a pause, the next words say,
“You hid your face; I was dismayed.
To you, O LORD, I cry
And to the Lord I plead for mercy;
What profit is there in my death,
If I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?” (Psalm 30:6-9).
That sudden change of mood is repeated over and over in this song. Happiness. Despair. Laughter. Tears…
This is the psalm that says, “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (vs 5).
Only after a series of highs and lows, does the song conclude,
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing… O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”
Seems to me that— while at a loss to know what to think or feel in a world of such inexpressible wonder and tragedy… we owe it to ourselves and to one another to think about the story of possibilities and certainties between the two “I wills” of Psalm 30…
“I will never be moved” (vs 6)… and “I will give thanks to you forever” (vs 12)…
And just as importantly,When the songwriter asks, What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?”
What will we say about him (with and without words)… if we remain?
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