Backlit
London, ON, October 2006
Like many of you, I've been watching the news from Japan with a growing sense of dread. Bad enough the quake moved the coastline eight feet and realigned the planet's axis. Worse that the ensuing jet-speed tsunami destroyed entire regions miles and miles inland. Now the country is dealing with a potential nuclear accident as it continues to count the dead and figure out a way back to normalcy. Or something like it.
I know adversity tends to breed the best in some - and Japan's achievements have positioned it well to drive its eventual recovery. But watching my kids enjoy an average Saturday with friends today, I couldn't help but wonder why fate doesn't always smile on others as it smiled on them on this day. I'm not complaining, of course. Just wondering why life sometimes seems so unfair.
I took this picture years back as a way of reminding myself to take the time to step away from the big, bad world and enjoy some solitary peace every once in a while. As I looked at it again earlier today, it also reminded me that life returns after the bleakest winter, even if we can't really see it right now.
Your turn: Japan. Thoughts?
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12 comments:
I was very disturbed tonight to read that the earth had shifted on its axis (4") after the quake. That is enough to change our weather patterns and many other things we haven't thought of yet. It does not bode well.
Well said Carmi. Our fragile earth and its fragile people is sometimes hard to comprehend.
The question on my mind is what happens if the jet stream moves radiation to North America? And apparently I've become a little cynical - just because some official on the news says that the radiation levels haven't increased, doesn't mean that's true. Who's to say that it might not be a significant problem but they don't want people to panic. Maybe I've watched too many movies or read too many books.
It's weird how "big" things, like what's happening in Japan, can be such a reminder that the "big" things in my life could be much worse.
My heart aches for their troubles.
"...it also reminded me that life returns after the bleakest winter, even if we can't really see it right now."
So true. So true. And so eloquently stated. Thank you, Carmi.
OK I feel for the people of Japan any loss of life is heart breaking to see, you think of all those people who have no idea where their loved ones are. As a nation and part of the human race they will rebuild and will learn from it. On the nuclear reactor issue this link should help clarify what is speculated to be happening rather than the headline scaremongering of the next nuclear winter.
Japan is teaching the world what may happen to other countries... I heard the radioactive plants are in great danger...The thought of that reminds me of what happened at Hiroshima.Carmi, btw, there is a fellow blogger in Japan who is writing about this...
http://pureland.blogspot.com/2011/03/earthquake-updates-day-2-806am-thanks.html
I guess we do have to test those atom bombs occasionally just to make sure they still work. Does anybody think that testing them underground won't eventually have some kind of impact? Or are tectonic plates too large to be affected? Does it depend on placement? Just another viewpoint.
It is just very very sad. ~ j///b
Seeing the catastrophic destruction in Japan, and now a volcano too..., makes our bitching about snow this winter pale in comparison.
Stepping away will not help me these days. The Japanese with their gentle culture and beauty deserve only a respite from all that is happening so that they can take stock of where they are and how they move forward from here. This is so unfair!
I have constant thoughts and prayers, but no words...
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