Haiti Remembered

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. That was one year ago today.

I did a double take when I read that it has been only one year since the devastation hit. Doesn't it seem that the earthquake happened much longer ago?  Maybe it's because Haiti has been the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere for most of its history.

Every school child has been taught that in 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America. I did not realize that in 1492, he also discovered Haiti!

Columbus claimed it for Spain, but at various times, Haiti has been under the control of the French, who imported 1/3d of all African slaves to work its plantations; and even for a time under the control of the United States, mostly to impose financial stability in order to recover on bad debt. Only in recent time has Haiti been independent. And they have struggled mightily.

Do you ask, in this time of terrorism, poverty and shocking crime in our own country, WHY should we help Haiti?! Do you feel "guilted" into helping?

Jesus said, Whatever you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me.

Can we now enter Haiti, not out of self interest as the Western nations historically did? Not out of "survivor guilt"?

Now: Can we enter Haiti simply out of love for humankind?

(c) The Spiritual Devotional 2011. All Rights Reserved.