Where else do we have sophisticated specialists and equipment monitoring weather to give us warnings days ahead of time? Where else do we have researchers and government enforcing building codes that save lives, even if they cost us more to build? [The earthquake in Chile last year was over twice the strength of the one in Haiti yet around 550 died in Chile, over 300,000 died in Haiti. The difference, building codes and other developmental factors.]
Where else do you have SES, Army, Councils, electricity companies working around the clock to restore life to normal? Where else does the govt give you money if you were effected, indeed, help you out if you weren't insured? Where else do volunteers come out of the woodwork to help their neighbours?
Indeed help has become so 'normal' in our society, that when there are hiccups in the process [ie roads are closed, so help can't get in] we complain. People in many countries would be left to their own devises to recover by themselves, we have little to complain about. Remember Govt ain't God, all these things are gift, gift [not right] - we must recognise and receive them as such with much gratefulness. Gifts scorned and taken for granted are soon no longer given.
It is my contention that we live in such a wonderful society because of our Christian heritage, and that if we loose that we risk loosing such gifts. I say that not to force Christianity on our society, but so that reasonable individuals will see the connection and decide to get serious about faith!
The other thing that does confront and challenge me is, how do we share these gifts with the developing world? If our wisdom/technology was in Haiti - could 299,500 lives have been saved? That is to our shame. If it means no wide-screen TV's in anyone's houses, or less mobile phones or laptops - wouldn't that be worth it? It is only by divine choice I live where I live. But it is because of human selfishness that we don't share the blessings of human unselfishness.
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