Haiti and Millstones

We've all been watching the terrible devastation in Haiti. Buildings collapsed, roads impassable, food and water cut off, bodies of those unfortunate souls lying, bloating in the streets. We've all watched...in horror. Yesterday I was glued to some news coverage as a small band of men dug, with their bare hands, through several feet of rubble to reach a crying child buried somewhere beneath them. As they struggled, the great drama was being witnessed by several women and children standing back from the ruins, yet altogether a part of them. The eyes of those standing around had already cried their fill of tears and their weakened, dehydrated bodies could shed no more. Yet anyone could see that their hearts were still weeping.

As I watched, there was sudden movement among the diggers and then applause from the onlookers and shouts, shouts of pleasure and joy. The crying was no longer buried under feet of rubble, but buried in the arms of one of the rescuers. A tragedy was avoided and a momentary release from the horrific scenes surrounding them was has by that small crowd. A baby was saved! Though thousands of babies lie crushed beneath the mass of rock, cement and destruction, one was saved and there was rejoicing.

The whole thing reminded me of Jesus telling his listeners that it would be better for them to hang a great stone about their necks and throw themselves into the sea than to offend one of His little ones. Then I thought, what if these people, out of fear of further collapse of buildings and the chance that they might get crushed, maimed or even killed, what if they refused to help the crying one? Would they be guilty of offending? Oh, I know Jesus wasn't talking about saving the life of a little child - at least not necessarily, but He was talking about caring for the weak and the struggling and the helpless. I understand that He was talking about not causing them to sin or stumble so as to be lost and that He wasn't necessarily talking about little children, but rather the weak in faith. Yes. Yes. I understand all that, but what about helping the helpless?

Should I stand by and allow the crying to continue until such a time as it weakens, slowly quiets and then subsides altogether to be heard no more? Would that be offensive for me? Yes, and I know we all cannot go down to Haiti and dig through the rubble, nor can we all adopt one of those unfortunate instant orphans. But there are other ways to dig a child from the rubble. A tiny gift of ten dollars wold help, and for those who do not see ten dollars as tiny could give a dollar. Working with those who are loading cargo containers is a possibility. You may not be able to dig out, but you could help fill up by lending your hands and back to load a container that will be sent to relieve the suffering of the devastated. Look around and see, there are things that can be and should be done. Things that you can do. And when it's done then we can all stand back and shout a shout of joy amid the rubble and know that we have not offended and the millstone can be laid aside.