What Haiti has taught me

The recent earthquake in Haiti has taught me that mankind is still good. While many weep over the poor state of social affairs and how society has become out of control, I noticed the outreach that was immediate after Haiti. Driving home I just heard of a telethon taking place with many celebrities giving of their time to raise money for those affected by the quake. Stores have signs hanging with instructions on how to donate. Radio stations are running fundraisers in order to send goods. And all this was done immediately after hearing the news. Similar events were held following Katrina and it seems like the world learned from that. This time it took less planning and the efforts were almost automatic. And now I see that beneath the hard clothing and the i-pods and blackberries, people are still good and caring, hoping to help one in need.

I'm thinking .........

I'm thinking of the cold and hungry
While I lay warm and content in my bed
I am thinking of how I could feel lacking
But today I feel grateful instead

I'm thinking of the childless couple
As my kids- they scream and yell
I’m thinking of how I yearn for sleep
But should just be glad my children are well

I'm thinking of the terror victims
In Israel they suffer so
I'm thinking of the secure life we have here
We’re so lucky we all should know

I'm thinking of the family
Whose father suddenly passed away
I'm thinking of the sorrow they are enduring
While our families still laugh and play

I'm thinking of the mother
And her son who is so ill
All the treatments he must go through
Appreciate your health, if you will

I'm thinking of the unemployed man
and how he agonized before he spent
i'm thinking of the parnassah I have
and know its heaven sent

i'm thinking of all the tzaros
of klal yisroel far and near
i'm thinking of all the brachos in my life
if I just look, they are right here.

facebook

I resisted facebook for a while. Finally my friend convinced me to join as a way to see pictures of her children. So I gave in. I know its all fake and meaningless yet I somehow manage to be hurt by it. The friend who convinced me to go on never comments on my status posts yet she will comment on all others including MY real life friends as they update the going ons of their families. I also notice that many use pictures of their children as their profile picture and their status’es are exclusively about the kids. Others will automatically comment or “like” anything child related. So I found myself realizing that as much as in real life I try to convince myself that its not all about having kids, if I were to view facebook as a microcosm of the real world it leaves me once again realizing that if you don’t have kids people have nothing to say to you and you may as well not exist.