What to do about Japan? "Some things we can carry!"

What are we to do about Japan, personally? In the pedestrian traffic of Trinity Western University today, just outside the bookstore, students of Japanese heritage and/or citizenship are gathered at a table making origami items (birds, etc.) and bookmarks to give away to other students, faculty, staff, campus visitors, etc., whomever gives to the Canadian Red Cross to help with earthquake/tsunami relief. The distruction of so much of Japan is beyond comprehension. The global media night after night works to make the disaster as comprehensible as possible with the help of stories of individuals in mourning, stories of rescue, and stories of heroism. Without a doubt, Japan has a long road ahead of restoration of whole communities and the nation. What are we to do when moved by the magnitude of the disaster?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words come to mind. Facing the atrocities of Hitler's regime in the early 1940's and the disastrous consequences of Nazi immorality and raw evil, and speaking of what had already transpired, Bonhoeffer said - "Some things we can not change, but we can carry." That's the case with the plight of Japan today. To paraphrase Bonhoeffer, some things we can not change. The earthquake and tsunami has transpired. They are like the arrow shot from the bow. The reality cannot be pulled back and undone. We can not change the reality, we can only help to carry it.

On an individual level, you can help carry the burden now faced by the Japanese people. Some will actually volunteer traveling to Japan to give time and effort over the short and long haul of relief and restoration. Most of us will not, but we can do what we can by supporting the Canadian Red Cross and The Salvation Army (see their websites to donate), and others whose missions and savvy can help carry the burden. I encourage you to be generous to Japanese relief while at the same time not forgetting Haiti. Pray for the people of both countries. God loves them and calls us to be human agency in his name to reach out and respond. We can not change the burden of history for the Japanese people. We can nevertheless help them carry the great task of relief and restoration.