the suffering of others

What are you doing today? Wake up, get ready, go to work. Meeting a friend for lunch? Shopping for something tonight?

What are you doing this weekend? Canoe trip? Picnic? Something relaxing?

Usually we don't think about suffering unless we are suffering. Although we feel the pain of others for a short time, we forget about their pain very quickly. I don't know if it is being self-absorbed, or if the human psyche can only think about difficult things for so long.

When was the last time you thought about or prayed for the following.

Those in the path of hurricane Dean. The families who lost loved ones in the Minneapolis bridge collapse. The six miners and their families. Those still homeless from hurricane Katrina. The homeless in general. Those facing genocide in the Sudan. The hungry in Ethiopia. The invisible children of Uganda. Orphans in Russia. Those who lost family members in the tsunami. Families separated from their loved ones who are serving in the military. Families who have lost loved ones in the Iraq war. Families who lost loved ones in 9-11. In the Oklahoma City bombing. Someone lost a parent. Someone lost a child. Someone is going through a divorce. Someone is in the nursing home. Someone is lonely.

We can go on and on. The list of suffering people is endless.

How is it possible that I didn't think about any of them yesterday? If I didn't think about them, I didn't pray for them.

Empathy. Compassion. Lord, let me not be so busy that I forget about the heartache of so many of your children in our community and around the world.

Please join me today in remembering those who suffer. Part of what makes the world a wonderful place is the care that we extend to each other.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.