Celebrate that we are alive

A friend in mid-north New South Wales is suffering the tragic misfortunes of one of those once in a generation floods.  In the midst of shock and awe, she raised a glass from her landing, looking down at a waterway, that was her street, to toast life and thank God.  Inspirational! 

She is surely not alone.  Solidarity in disaster and tribulation!  I think of those in Myanmar suffering from the earthquake, with little help and a continuing war.  The pictured quote is from a photographer who did a photo shoot of Mandalay, which has been devastated by the 28th March earthquake.  

Raising a glass, uttering a swear word, venting some anger, sharing a tear or a smile - all are signs of life in the midst of adversity.  Undoubtedly, our times are dark with our more than fair share of war and conflict, with mounting disasters, with the woes and troubles of life.  

We can choose.  We can stay in the quagmire and be overcome by the fear and "what ifs" of life, or be assured by a basic stance in life, which says:

"I am human.  Yes, I am weak and make mistakes.  That is who I am, but not totally who I am.  I am not defined by my weaknesses and mistakes.  Rather, I glory in my total human reality, where we find God, God who never abandons us, me; who never leaves us, me orphaned."  

So I don't wallow in self-pity, in my mistakes and fears.  So our world is not defined by disaster, war, conflict, suffering.  Instead, we are defined by remaining true to the pursuit of good and of the higher goals in life.  The challenge is ever before us to believe in life and build it up, no matter what, for life is good.  It is n life that we find God at the deepest level, the source of goodness, the source of our overcoming all fear and of our being able to reach out beyond the dark times.   Celebrate that we are alive.