Why? Or What Next?

Why? Or…What Next?

As I sit here to write this reflection, I can’t help but to think about what I know so many of you have been thinking of these past days: Haiti.

My mind is filled with images that both bespeak hope, and despair. I remember this past Sunday (January 17), seeing the Easter-sized crowd gathered in the Meetinghouse for worship, after our group of returnees got back (rather late) from a spirit-filled service at Shiloh Baptist. What hope I felt from the spirit’s tender care in that service—the spirit that helped us rejoice in the amazing providence represented by the safe return of every one our people. I will savor that worship service; I will never forget it.

And I think of the stories I’ve heard of the Haitian people, many of whom are still living in fields, filling their evenings with hymn-singing, waking to the glow of the sun and beginning another desperate day with worship.

And yet, my mind is still filled—as I’m sure is yours—with disturbing images, troubling thoughts. I cannot forget the images I’ve seen on the television of a country that was already in a state of disaster when the earthquake struck…images of dead bodies on the streets, mangled limbs, desperate survivors. I think about how members of our group themselves saw such things; heard the moans of dying people, carried the bodies of the dead.

And I think of how unfair it is that, in the words of Brian Williams, “some children are born into poverty and struggle only to die young and in great pain—while my children lead such fortunate lives.” Why? Why so much suffering for a people already so desperate?

I think of all of that, and it makes me want to break something. (I know, I’m letting down my pastoral mask just a bit). But I contend that it is something we do well to be angry about. Because, anger—if it doesn’t ossify into resentment, grievance or despair—can motivate us. Did you know that anger is an aspect of how we understand God’s love? Anger at what’s wrong with us and the world?

What echoes in my mind too is the wonderful sound bite that Louise Johnson offered in her words on Sunday: “It may be that right now the most important question to ask is not ‘Why’…but ‘What next?’” And what’s next is to “do the work of the one who sent” us, while it is day (John 9:4)—while there is urgent work to be done.

What is so heartening to me is to hear so many of the members of our now-returned Haiti delegation say, “I want to go back.” To hear in their voices a passion not to forget what they experienced, and to make meaning of it by redoubling our effort to help rebuild Haiti. We are in a unique position to do that, through our twenty-plus years of partnership with Pastor Luc and his ministry. That work is more important now than ever.

In the weeks ahead, we will be working with Pastor Luc to do just that. This week—right after they returned—Bruce McGraw and Joan Semenuk are busy at work organizing the consortium of churches who have been supporting Pastor Luc, so we can coordinate our funding and our help for Pastor Luc. The work is already beginning—and we all will need to step up to the proverbial plate, by generously offering what we have to give, so that people who have so little can survive.

Now it is day. And the work begins, through the one who is our hope, our help, and our Redeemer.

Jeff Vamos