Guilty

I feel so guilty. Hell, I am guilty so at least I own it.

Blog Guilty #5I’m in Vancouver in the lap of comparable luxury. I even went for a stroll along our beautiful waterfront this morning. Gazing across at the city that looks so calm and serene and lucky.

There’s time to go for a walk.

 

And even though my life is filled with stresses and concerns, I live here and not in Nepal.

We humans sometimes look the other way so we don’t have to feel guilty.

See this? The royal baby has a good name.

Oh look! An internet app that will guess your age.

NewsFlash: It’s Star Wars Day and there is going to be a new movie.

Guess what… I stopped and looked at each of these and probably spent too much time chatting about the nuances of Yoda.

Luckily I also looked at each picture from Nepal that showed up on my Facebook page. I read each post sent out by the many I am connected with back in Kathmandu. I drove to the local Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and gave some cash.

Many did much more.

The monks join in with the work that needs to be done.

The monks join in with the work that needs to be done.

Lama Pema (the head of that same Monastery) was on one of the first flights that left Vancouver after the earthquake and a couple days later showed up in his old village to offer support. They lost everything and he was able to give them hope. They have not been forgotten.

Lama Pema offering his support.

Lama Pema offering his support.

Today my internet feed is full of pictures of the monks helping where everything has been lost. Kathmandu will survive, but the concern is for the small villages that crumbled.

The devastation of Lama Pema's old village.

The devastation of Lama Pema’s old village.

I only sit and watch. And feel guilty.

Blog Guilty #4An hour ago the TV screens in BC all went red and a test broadcast was run. We may not be fully prepared but I’m sure we will be better off here if that inevitable disaster hits. For many the focus will be drawn away from Nepal and the navel gazing about our own preparedness will resume.

 

 

The world will move on but part of me will stay with those villagers and monks and nuns.

My emergency kit now includes what I need to do today to help those far away.

The young nuns pray "hard" for the survivors.

The young nuns pray “hard” for the survivors.

2 replies
  1. Another Wendy A.
    Another Wendy A. says:

    Your insightfulness is so true. As I’ve sponsored children overseas, Belarus, Ethopia, Columbia, Zimbabwe and currently Malawi, am always conscious of the luxuries we have in our world here. With tragedies such as in Nepal, the struggles the people already face become insurmountable. Only with massive assistance from others who truly care can the task of rebuilding from not only nothing but having to grieve losses of so many loved ones, helping those injured recover and clear away tons of rubble. Beyond most humans comprehension; yet it will be their daily existence for years to come.
    Last week, the Kathmandu Restaurant on 12th and Commercial held a wonderful fundraiser evening. For the price of a $20.00 dinner, 100% of the proceeds were going directly to the Red Cross for Nepal. The owner from Nepal had many family and friends there who thankfully were all okay, but his heart is with his country people. I was more than happy to travel for an hour to enjoy their generous spirit and the wonderful food.
    We can all do something.

    Reply

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