31.10.07

context...

Yesterday, I woke with my attention towards Tropical Storm Noel. The path and intensity of the storm could have greatly affected our plans to leave Nassau, so we looked outside, checked the weather channel, and researched if our plane was delayed. Thankfully, Noel hadn't yet reached Nassau and our plane lifted off with relatively few bumps.

Today, safe and sound in Lawrence, I awoke with absolutely no care or concern for Tropical Storm Noel, despite the potential havoc it was wreaking on my new friends in Nassau.

Isn't it fascinating how quickly something that yesterday was a primary concern, today is completely ignored and forgotten. It reminds me of the importance of local context and worldview, and their inherent tension. Somehow, I must learn to hold a global concern, while not allowing the immensity of what happens to overwhelm my care for the person in front of me.

If you get a moment, please pray for those affected by Noel.
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1 comment:

rachel rianne said...

on wednesday,
ishmael beah, the author of a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier came and spoke at k-state.
he talked about so many global problems that we need to be aware of,
and he talked about the importance of understanding peoples and cultures and the things that affect them.
they're things that i've been learning the past few years,
and it's ridiculously hard,
but it's really driving and exciting to me.
i hope for you that global awareness is something that spurs you on,
but, like you said,
you have to focus on what's in front of you as well.

good thing we aren't able to/aren't supposed to understand the big picture most of the time.
or else our heads would explode.

November 2, 2007 at 8:48 AM

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