Solidarity

UPDATE: Check out the Black Iris blog to see how you can help get food, blankets and blood to Gaza. Hurry, the food and clothes drop off is on Tuesday, Dec. 30!

First, let me say that this will most likely not be my most well written post. I am feeling too many emotions to think clearly: sadness, anger, frustration, helplessness and more sadness. For those of you living in another world than me, I am referring to the terrible atrocities that are being committed in Gaza against innocent civilians, children walking home from school, women doing their daily shopping, ambulance drivers who are simply trying to pick up the dead and dying from the middle of the roads.

I am not a dreamer. I know that many people who read this may be supporters of Israel and their policies - we will just have to agree to disagree. But, I beg you, how in God's name can you agree with the indiscriminate bombing of an entire city? First, they cut off all fuel supplies to Gaza (no heat for warmth, no fuel for cooking). Next, they cut off all food and medicine shipments (in case the lack of heat wasn't bad enough). And now, since neither of those did the job, they decide to begin killing with bombs. I know there are those who would argue that Hamas brought this on their own people by "allowing" a few Gazans to launch rockets into Israeli territory. Since when can we hold an entire people, specifically women and children, responsible for what a few people do? Aren't there at least a few people in America and Europe who do things that reflect badly on their governments? Would the world sit by and watch as Mexico or Canada dropped bombs on the entire US as revenge and expect them to do nothing? Let's think logically for a minute. How many people have been killed by rockets launched from Gaza in the past year - 4, 5 maybe? Now, how many people were killed yesterday in Gaza by Israeli bombs - at least 250 with over 400 wounded. To put that in perspective, it would take at least 60 years for Palestinian rockets to do equal damage.

Anyway, I know I am just rambling at this point. I have thought and thought about what I can do, personally, to change this situation and the answer I keep coming up with is nothing. I can pray for them, sure, but I want to be actively part of the solution. There is just nothing I can do. I feel helpless. I can do nothing to help, but I can show my solidarity.

I have decided, and I encourage all of my readers, including those not in the Middle East, to fast for at least one day - I will be fasting on Monday, Dec. 29 - from sunrise to sunset to feel the hunger that they feel. Instead of just fasting, try to imagine that you are fasting and bombs are raining down on you.

For those of you who want to take it a step further, I challenge you to live on what you have in your cabinets and refrigerator for the rest of the week. Don't go to the grocery, don't go to the bakery, don't even go to the mini-market. Now imagine that you have no choice and this is how you have to live.

Appreciate what God has given you. Be thankful. Pray for those who are suffering.