Five days ago, without warning or forethought, Mother Earth shook, opened, and left nothing less than utter devastation, despair, and grief. All along her path, like a savaged and hungry beast, she swallowed her young, her elders, and her future. Was this land, in her mind, to become like Atlantis, which sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune"? Perhaps, but that was – is – not to be.

Even amid the destruction and devastation, Haiti still stands. Despite the lack of infrastructure, emergency plans, and stability, Haiti still stands. In spite of the tremendous lack of everything we take for granted, Haiti still stands. I sit here asking myself HOW? WHY?

While I do not know the answers, it is very clear to me that abject poverty is no match for resilience, hope, and pride. It is clear to me that one’s educational level does not equate to the ability to bring order to chaos. It is clear to me that being in the presence of utter despair, devastation, and destruction does not have to be the precursors to lawlessness and anarchy.

In my mind, what is happening in Haiti today, five days after one of the most deadly earthquakes in history is nothing short of a miracle. Who among us could have the patience of Job with not knowing if your child was alive or dead? Who among us could resort to songs of praise and celebration in the absence of food, water, or shelter? Who among us could walk among the bodies of hundreds of men, women, and children and maintain a sense of resolve for a better tomorrow? Who among us? There, by the grace of God, go I? While I pray that I never have to go through such an experience, I pray that if such is God’s Will, that God’s Grace will prove as sufficient as it has for the people of Haiti.

Much Obliged, Very Much Obliged... SjP

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