Swept away..

What devastation! What a great loss of innocent lives and livelihoods.

In a matter of minutes what was once heaven became hell on earth. As Singaporeans we visit many of the places hardest hit by the tsunami or have under our employ people who hail from these places.Unfortunately many of those affected are the very poor and most do not have any form of insurance coverage. For these people it will take more than a lifetime to rebuild their lives.

Thankfully Singapore was spared from any ill-effects. But it now remains for us to do our part in this time of adversity. All of us can do something to help. Every bit counts. You may donate monies to the various relief agencies or supplies which would very much help caregivers and the re-building work that has to be done. Of course some of us may even decide that we can help best by actually being the ones to rebuild the places and lives devastated by the waters.

In times like these we realise what is most important. There are people out there who lost everything. All the money in the world can never bring back loved ones lost. My pain is but a drop in the ocean (no pun intended) compared to what they have to go through. Though the physical scars may eventually heal, the memory of that day will live on forever. It makes all our relationship problems, who sat where and with whom at lunch, how fat or thin people say we are and office politics pale by comparison to their grief.

Let us pray for those affected that though their lives are forever changed, their spirit be never broken.... and that there is still a Hope even in our darkest hours...