Like most people, Christian or not, my wife and I have been deeply impacted by the tragedy that is unfolding in Haiti. Not many years ago a tragedy of a different sort happened on the doorstep of my nation. The boxing day tsunami brought untold suffering to so many with it's most redeeming feature being that we all might fulfill the words of Jesus Scripture:

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

I have read some sickening replies to this tragedy, replies from contemptable men who have the nerve to prefix their name with Reverend, replies to contemptable men whose vision is so tunneled that every word they speak is like venom, men who if they stopped for a single second to consider their words and thoughts and motivations would shrivel up in horror at the people they have become.

To those voices and for all of our edification I commend this article; may we never forget the human toll nor that where there is grieving, there is also our God who grieves with us.

“I don’t know if all things happen for a reason,” Arends said on Friday. “I do know that when things happen, God is there. I know that God is on top of a high hill in Haiti, weeping in pain. I know that God is on an airplane with a widow, weeping in pain. I know that God is in Duluth with a couple parents, weeping in pain, and yet promising to hold and keep and give whatever they need.”