"Lukewarm" is how the wee man described us last night, situated half-way up the eastern coast of Australia, sandwiched between the searing temperatures and horrendous bushfires of the South (Victoria and South Australia) and the torrential downpours and heavy flooding of the North (Far North Queensland).
The irony struck me this morning, reflecting on this conversation, as I remembered that around this time last year I was blogging on the string of natural disasters that had touched our little part of the world (first here, then here), and wondering what was next.
I can live with "lukewarm".
Like all Australians, I'm incredibly sad for the people affected by the terrible bushfires in Victoria, now being described as the worst natural disaster in Australia's history. At least 107 people killed, and many more to be discovered, and countless families left homeless - entire towns razed to the ground. (See here for information and images.)
At the same time, I worry about members of my family, and many others, who are still threatened by rising floodwaters around the Townsville area.
Just as we all wonder how we're going to manage through a financial "crisis", Nature reminds us what being in crisis is really all about.
(PS. You can make a donation to aid the fire victims by direct debit with these details: Victoria Bushfire Relief Fund; BSB: 082-001; Account: 860 046 797. Money is the greatest need right now - many families have nothing more than the clothes they are wearing.)
Monday, February 09, 2009
Lukewarm
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3 comments:
Cruelly - yes - "Nature reminds us what being in crisis is really all about".
We are all so much better off than the victims of Q & Vic natural diasters.
I can't help but think the people affected by the floods are feeling a little the same way.Though the loss of life is less there are just as many people feeling the pain of both their tragedy and their southern counterparts.
I have a sense that people up North, coming to terms with their own losses, may be struggling with an additional burden of guilt (relief that they still have roofs over their heads, though they may be wet underfoot) and shame (that they are a little vexed at the Victorian crisis taking the focus of the country's and the world's attention).
It is such a helpless feeling to see all that around you. Sending prayers to your family.
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