forgive me if i'm getting all navel-gaze-y

[lirazel]

So we spent some time in the stairwell last night before I left work, but somehow I managed to miss how horrible the tornadoes were in other areas, particularly in Alabama. Dealing with tornados is just a part of growing up in the South (and in the Midwest, I know), so I’m usually not horribly phased by them (too much time spent in basements and hallways without anything ever affecting anyone I love too profoundly will make you sort of blasé about it all, I hate to say). But the damage this time, especially in Tuscaloosa, is just breaking my heart. So many dead. So very many dead, especially for one tornado. The death toll is in the hundreds from one storm—that’s extreme. And it particularly freaked me out this time because I have so many people that I love in that area, and though they're all fine, there were some close calls.

It’s just felt to me lately like every time I turn around, there’s some other natural disaster: tsunamis or hurricanes or earthquakes. Add to that the violence everywhere, but especially in the Middle East, and the world just feels like such a broken place. And yet there’s so much beauty, too, so much wonder. There are times when I’m so wrapped up in that beauty that I feel buoyant, that I revel in it and feel that the world is so wonderful. And then there are other times when I’m absolutely caught up in the devastation and how much pain there is in the world and how much suffering and how many tears. Life can be so, so hard for so very many people. And I am so, so blessed, because even though it’s sometimes hard for me, compared to so many I have so very much. My prayer is that I’ll always be grateful and humble, that I’ll never feel entitled, and that I’ll never forget those who are suffering. But reconciling the pain and suffering on one side and the joy and beauty on the other…it’s difficult sometimes. But it’s also at the heart of what it is to be human, isn’t it? Walking that line. Experiencing both, and trying to live with the contradictions.

Anyway, I hope that everyone y’all love is safe today and that you’ll keep the ones who have lost so much in your thoughts and prayers.

Comments

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about the tornado blase, because I have it (to some degree) with earthquakes. Going into San Francisco was starting to make me nervous because they really need to have a good earthquake and release that friction buildup. But you spend your childhood learning to stand under doorways and under desks and it's not that big a deal.

Until, say, Haiti. Or Japan. And while Haiti was not prepared in the slightest, and Japan was, the latter country's still suffering because its nuclear reactors were damaged. Gorram black swans everywhere.

I'm glad to hear you're safe <3

[catbirdfish.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I'm glad you and your loved ones are safe, at least.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

The flyover shots of Tuscaloosa and North Birmingham are staggering.

[gwtwscarlett.livejournal.com]

Oh lord. My heart is with the people of Tuscaloosa. The worst thing is how expected and NATURAL these things feel after a while. Like the floods here almost every spring, though this year we've been lucky so far- it's about poor people losing their HOMES, yet we are used to hearing these kind of news around springtime.

It's part of our humanity to never stop caring and never take these things lightly.

And yes, the beauty. Sometimes it can be just as overwhelming as the sadness of it all. It's the times we spend with our families, our closest friends, the ones who make us feel grateful for being alive and breathing. Or when we read a beautiful book, watch an episode of a tv show we love. Always appreciate the beauty and never stop fighting to change the horrible.

Sorry for getting so philosophical, it's just one of those days :)

[herself_nyc]

I believe the weather is definitely more extreme more often than it was a few decades back; climate change is wreaking increasing havoc even as our gov't continues to ignore it ….

[next_to_normal]

It’s just felt to me lately like every time I turn around, there’s some other natural disaster: tsunamis or hurricanes or earthquakes.

It's not just you; there really has been an increase in extreme weather/natural disasters. What's more depressing, though, is that we did this. It's not just an "act of God" anymore - we're responsible for allowing things to get this bad. And it's only going to get worse. And the people who are least able to cope are the ones who are going to receive the worst of it. It's truly a tragedy.

(Er, I may have just finished a class on climate change and am feeling incredibly depressed and cynical, so I am having trouble with the "beauty" part, lol. But I appreciate that you are hopeful!)

[zombie_boogie.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that the people you care about are OK ♥. I feel extremely lucky that I live in an area of the world that is mostly unaffected by natural disasters. There is a chance of a huge blizzard, but not much else.

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

So much love for this entire post. And I'm very glad to hear you and yours are safe. ♥

Gotta have hope

[sarahlovesa.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. Where are the peaceful places? If it is not a natural disaster, it's manmade. I am sitting in my flat in Jordan, which is generally a lovely, peaceful place to live. There have been some violent protests and 2 of my students' fathers are in jail on corruption charges as the King is clamping down in order to appease the people. One of my favourite students has had to leave the country overnight with her family as her father has been arrested. There are lots of rumours about what is going to happen. Everyone at my school is on tenterhooks. And I keep thinking, what next? Will I have to leave? My family had to flee Iran and leave everything behind when I was young due to the revolution. I know how awful it can be. The situation in Palestine is really terrible and we keep hearing more and more horror stories. All our neighbours here are suffering.

Things can potter along as normal and then change without warning. Same as natural disasters. No matter how used you are to tornados or earthquakes, Mother Nature can still be completely devasting. I have friends in Japan who were lucky to survive. And the news is just shocking and tragic every day.

It can all be overwhelming. I have been feeling very hopeless about it all. But like you said,'But it’s also at the heart of what it is to be human, isn’t it? Walking that line. Experiencing both, and trying to live with the contradictions.'

So I have decided to stop being mad at my husband as I have been for the last couple of days. Because I am luckier than most and life is too fragile to waste it.