God and Haiti

The Archbishop of York was asked on the radio today why God allowed the Haiti earthquake to happen.  His answer, to me, was unclear and unconvincing. I have my own explanation.

Ours is a planet of choice.  Every person who lives and dies on Haiti has chosen to be there in the way they are or have been, either by soul or human choice or both.  The people of Haiti  stripped the land of protective forestation and put up totally inadequate buildings, both of which facts have made the situation far worse than it might have been.   The rest of the world has chosen to ignore the poverty and corruption that has been endemic there for so  long.  Earth, meanwhile, has chosen to flex her muscles as part of her transition and en-lightenment in a place that was appropriate for the spiritual plan and also to teach humanity about suffering, equity, compassion and community support.

So, God watches all these choices lovingly and without interference.  It is up to us as to whether we allow Haiti to slide back into oblivion and neglect as we have done so many times.  We can help now by sending love to the place and the people, and reinforcing the light that is directed there, as well as supporting the aid efforts in the best ways we can.   I spoke yesterday of how events such as these have a greater meaning, always for the the highest good:  the Haiti earthquake provides the rest of the world with such opportunities to learn and grow.  While we mourn the pain of those brave people, it serves us also to remember the good that comes from it.