I remember reading and discussing this poem, by Stephen Crane, in my creative writing course at CSUMB with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I realized the truth behind his words. And since then, with every disaster that has blistered our planet, Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti, and now the horrific event in Japan, I remember his words clearly and vividly.
Nature is more powerful than we can ever comprehend. That towering wall of water that rolled across fields, city streets, and neighborhoods, carrying with it cars, animals, buildings, and people as if they were as light as feathers. The earth shook so hard that it altered its own axis. The physical form of the island was forever changed within an hours time. The power of nature seems boundless, yet effortless.
Yet nature turns a blind eye - pure indifference. The towering wave and crumbling ground did not care who it too in its wake - people, animals, the homeless and the prominent...all the same. Luckily, nature's indifferent nod to our kind as little effect on our own strengths - our compassion. We can do many things that nature can not. We care. We pray. And so we do. We work together. We rebuild. We overcome. And so we will.
I hope the people of Japan can feel the outpouring love coming from every continent and that they can take strength from it. They will rise up and rebuild their home that stood flourishing only six days ago. And until we can do more, we watch and send thoughts of love, strength and encouragement.
