Change the lives of others. Change yours.

Like others have already done, I want to encourage everyone to help out however they're able with disaster relief. China has been on our minds because it's the most recent natural disaster to hit the news, with estimated death tolls nearing 20,000 and 70,000 injured. Last week the Myanmar cyclone killed 30,000 and there are 30,000+ still missing. There are also thousands killed or displaced by the tornadoes that have ravaged the southern United States. These are events from just the past couple weeks. Don't forget about Katrina in 2005 or the December 2004 tsunami that killed 230,000 in a dozen countries.

Every time we hear about another natural disaster most of us get a little sad, we might say a quick prayer or two for the victims, but do we actually help?

Why is it that we have no problem dropping 5 bucks on Starbucks or Jamba Juice but we can't donate a few dollars to an aid organization? We care more about the latest episode of Gossip Girl or American Idol than we do about those who don't have shelter, food, access to a bathroom, or even water.

What if your mother died in a natural disaster? What about your husband or girlfriend or child? Or even just a friend or acquaintance or teacher? Would you not feel sadness and a desire to make a difference? Those who died in Myanmar and China were people. They were fathers and grandmothers and babies not yet born. They were brothers and sisters and boyfriends and pets. They were like us.

Entire families have been killed by the recent spurt of natural disasters, yet we are so far-removed in our cozy little homes with our iPods and MySpace and everything else that we've reduced our ability to care and feel compassion.

I am guilty of this myself.

If you don't believe in the power of prayer, then don't pray with me. But at least do some research in ways you can help.

As for me, I'm going to continue to pray that God will allow goodness to come from the destruction. We don't know when we're going to leave this earth. We are not freaking invincible. We are foolish if we believe we're going to live to 75 years old and die of natural causes.

Make the most of today. Make the most of your time with others. Live with a sense of urgency and please strive to change lives, including your own.

Steph

"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." (Isaiah 58:7 NLT)