Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"
(Psa 41:1-4)

The estimates by some are 500,000 dead. Some have said 100,000. Perhaps it is less or even more, but whatever the death toll is, Haiti, the western hemisphere’s poorest nation, will never be the same since the devastating earthquake of 7.3 magnitude hit, literally flattening is capital city, which is home to about 2 million people. Since then the world has responded with supplies, water, medical assistance, search and rescue crews and more. Our own military has been mobilized and soon our boots will be on the ground fighting an entirely different enemy.
Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this tragedy. Tragedy, however, is not unknown to Haitians. Their land is prone to flooding, hurricanes, violent storms, mudslides, crushing poverty, poor government, illiteracy and poor building standards. They, for the longest time, have been literally steeped in poverty.
As I read the accounts of this horrible mélange of death and despair, my heart was torn for these people, as the salt was now being heaped upon their wounds of tragedies past. And I think I have problems? My computer runs slow or that person in front of me cut me off or my lunch was late or I have a toothache and must go to the dentist?
In this day let us stop, get on bended knee and offer our heartfelt prayer to God not just for the rescue, recovery and rebuilding of Haiti, but for our own abounding blessings that we are reminded of in stark contrast to their lives. God bless you all.
Ed