This Is the Body

It wasn't until I had some time between work and church tonight that I had a chance to watch the news and see video of the devastation in Haiti following yesterday's earthquake. The images are startling--men and women weeping over bodies of loved ones. Buildings leveled. Thousands of people homeless, sleeping on cardboard, without food or water.

I wept as I watched the news footage, and felt much as I did when watching the catastrophic scenes of the World Trade Center on 9/11, the tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. I felt an urge to do something. Pray, certainly--but I wanted to do more. Quite honestly, I didn't want to just go to church and sit in class and hear more about how to be a Christian. I wanted us to put the verses about being the body of Christ into effect.

As it turned out, tonight's lesson was on joy in all circumstances, including those of tragedy. We took time to pray for Haiti and for the people working there, and our missions minister said that he'd be getting word out in the next couple of days about some trusted relief organizations that we can donate to, as well as some other ways to help. I left class feeling grateful to be part of a church with people who likewise want to respond to those in need.

When I got home tonight I was touched by this entry on Mike Cope's blog about how his college class responded to the Haiti tragedy and put into practice what they'd been studying in the book of Acts. May every church, every school, every family rise up to be the body for those in need, not only for the people of Haiti, but for people everywhere.