Catastrophe, although disastrous to our lives and often times our atmosphere, serves as a motivating mechanism that drives us out of the trenches of apathy so that we are moved to participate in social issues that require us to donate time, money, and talent.  Unity in any form is beautiful because showing compassion means being aware and sensitive to the needs of someone else.  BlackVoices Blogger Jeff Mays seems to believe that United States Citizens, in general, are in the habit of making appeals for money when disaster strikes their backs.  In situations like Katrina or the Haiti Earthquake, genorosity was massive.  Churches, drugstores, supermarkets, and gas stations were all jumping on the bandwagon to collect and support rebuilding efforts.  Concern was high, and people really came together to help make a difference. 

Mays conducted a through interview with Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes concerning issues like poverty, secularism, behaviorism, and fundamental values.  Fobes believes that giving money prevents us from recognizing that a methodical strategy is a necessary resource when the unexpected happens.  Preparation down to the detail is necessary if we are to prevent long periods of displacement.  Our infrastructure is solid in the United States because our govermental process was created by our forefathers to promote equality and balance between each branch of government.  Unlike most world countries, we believe in democracy.  Historical ills should not be forgotten, but if we really want to help, there has to be a constant effort made to press forward with a clear vision, and we must have a solid plan in place that defines that vision so that it can become a reality.  Mays noted, "this country has become mired in individualism, secularism, and the race for wealth at seemingly all costs" and I concur because these are real issues that we can not erase from our society, but we can choose to say yes to a different dispostion.   After thinking about that for some time, I concluded that we need to ask ourselves,how can we move selfishness to the bottom of the list and move compassion to the top?  First, we have to think as Reverend James does in viewing money as only a supplemental resource.  Money can only help us to satisfy our basic needs, according to Maslows Hierarchy Pyramid.  If we want to truly reach self actualization; we must dig deeper and change our perspective about money and status through self introspection and our own willingness to let go of selfishness and become more contientious of those in need of help. 

Television and other forms of mass commuication will not keep us away from God or heaven if we choose to make healthy choices.  As believers we have to keep our senses open so that we can be receptive to Gods will for our life and understand that God can speak to us through any channel he chooses.  After all, he spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and when the disciples died, the mission to spread the gospel continued. 

Issues about money or materialistic objects will continue to be relevant in our pocess to be in relationship with God because ultimately we are going to always have to resist some type of temptation, but that does not mean choosing one or the other puts us in a position of doom because there had to be a Pharoah so that Scripture could come to pass.  Even more, the Apostle Paul changed from persecutor to believer.  It all comes down to our choice to remember God when he blesses us with rsources, and we must also remember to use that increase to help our brothers and sisters have a better quality of life.  To who much is given much is expected, so our resposibility  does not change when we are blessed with more.  If you do not fall off your bike and lacerate your knee, you will not need stitches; having the laceration means you need medical help and time to heal, and that's why change happens gradually.  Haiti will show signs of success if we continue to do our part to support program initiatives geared toward improving health, wealth, and personal well being for Haitian citizens and other impoverished countries.

Full story: www.bvblackspin.com