I watched the latest newscasts from Haiti this past weekend. I shed tears of joy when the Icelandic rescue team pulled a dust-caked couple from the rubble—still alive five days after the quake. I shed tears of a different kind, however, when the same team raced off to a flattened school where 46 children were said to be trapped. Sadly, there was no one left to save.
Image courtesy of the Associated Press
It’s not fair. I have two wonderful children who are safe and sound. There I sat in my cozy Seattle apartment, savoring a fresh blueberry bagel and a premium cup of coffee, wondering how I got so lucky, and wishing I could somehow bring 46 Haitian children back to life. Obviously I can’t, and neither can you. So, what can you and I do? The answer is simple: We must do what we can.
You may have already read the following excerpt from our new “ONE” book. But it’s a powerful reminder that, even before the earthquake struck, many Haitians survived on less than $2 per day. In comparison, you and I would seem to be living a life of royalty to them:
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If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of the world’s population.
- If you have a little money in the bank or spare change in a dish someplace…you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
- If you can drink from your kitchen faucet whenever you want…you are more fortunate by far than 1.5 billion people who have no access to clean water at all.
- If you can attend a church or a political rally without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death…you have the kind of freedom denied to more than three billion people in the world.
- If you can read this message, you are more blessed than two billion people who cannot read at all.
- If your everyday problems are weighing you down, there are millions of people on earth who would gladly trade places with you right now—problems and all—and feel they have been blessed.
Remember: “From those to whom much is given, much is expected.” The people of Haiti need our help. Right now, we are their hope. Please, look into your heart today, and then do what you can.
