Should I Care More?

More coverage tonight on the massive earthquake in China. I have to remember Katrina. When it hit, so many things happened that I thought could never occur in the United States. But listening to the coverage of the earthquake in China, I can't help but wonder - would I care more about this if it happened somewhere other than China?

I am not a fan of anything Asian. Never have been. It's really the only place on earth I have no desire to travel to. Just not interested. My loss, I'm sure. Of course, I am a little ashamed to admit that.

The death toll in China is staggering. They were just numbers to me. I wonder, if this happened in Britain, or Italy or France (well, maybe not France) but you get the picture, would I be more devastated? Then today I half listen to the news, and I see parents sitting outside a collapsed school, weeping. They've been there for days, waiting for government officials to come and dig their child out. They are allowed only one child, so if their child is dead, they have lost their only child. And the children are all dead. Except one amazing boy. I see the parents run to the ambulance in hope the one living boy is theirs. I see the pain on their faces.

Finally, my cold heart is moved. They love their children. I love my children. Why must I compartmentalize my emotions, devoting space to only those people who look like me or think like me? Now my shame is true shame.

So, if you are like me, let me encourage you to take note. There was an earthquake in China this week and many people are dead and many are grieving and the pain is unbearable. Please care. Please pay attention to the story. Please pray for these precious people. And to all people, please forgive my cold heart, I am truly ashamed. And thank you to the little boy who fought to hang on, for showing me the err of my ways. I will never again overlook human tragedy with disinterest. I cannot change it, but I can give it the attention and the dignity it deserves. Join me, if you will.