Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Tides of Life

I have always loved the ocean. As a boy in Hawaii, I think the Pacific ocean knew my name and called me. After all, that is where I was baptized. While I served my mission in Haiti, the hardest "rule" that we had to follow was that we couldn't go swimming. Here I was in a paradise with the Caribbean just feet away at times and we were supposed to look away. Well, needless to say, I failed that rule a few times (after all, we did baptize in the ocean there too).

One thing that I have noticed about the ocean is the tide. It is quite powerful and serves an amazing purpose. I think we have tides in our lives. At times, the tide is low and we feel it. But, it is only a matter of time when things start to change. Sometimes the change is in ways that we expect, but at other times, it changes in a way that we would have not likely imagined.

Last week, the tide in Haiti changed dramatically. I've been in a few earthquakes including a few large ones having lived in Southern California for 20 years. It is part of life. But, earthquakes are rather startling events because one moment you're at point X and the next at point AAADVDE. I've heard that the Haitian quake lasted about 24 seconds. In that time frame, thousands of lives were lost, buildings destroyed and millions of lives changed. The tide of life changed.

Watching the news after such an event is an odd experience. It seems like disasters go in these somewhat predictable patterns. There is the disaster that is at first heard about, but then the extent starts to be revealed. Then the shock of the event is felt. Then the response begins. From there, a thousand stories about the response are made. Some are good, most are critical with a lot of finger pointing. Most of the stories that come out of disasters focus on the negative, but there are some uplifting moments. For most of us on the sideline, we observe, lament, wonder, hope, and feel. We know that there is little that we can do, but we try. We pray, we hope, we give, we watch and we read. Personally, most disasters for me are frustrating because I feel like I want to be there. I want to dive in and rescue. Its the lifeguard in me (which I never was). Haiti, is so frustrating because I really believe in the heart of the people. The everyday person there (and probably everywhere) is a good, caring soul. They need hope. In Haiti, there is little hope, but perhaps, as the tide starts to ebb its way back, something amazing can happen. It will take miracles, but miracles happen. Like the ocean tide. A little miracle that we take for granted.

Here is to a miracle for Haiti and for Liken. It needs miracles too.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dear Haiti

I had to write a quick blog about Haiti, where a part of my heart is always kept. Two days ago a massive, unthinkable earthquake hit the capitol city, Port-au-Prince. If you have ever been to Haiti, which I recognize that few in this world (as a %) ever have, you know that nothing could be worse. The country is built for deluges of water, but not for an earthquake. In fact, I can't imagine a more unthinkable event relative to the way the city is both laid out and built upon. Much of the city is built on various slopes, hills and mountains. The buildings are largely cinder block with very poor reinforcement. Concrete was considered great because they had it in abundance and because it could take a pounding from the rain and wind and not be fazed. But, throw a powerful earthquake (and those that have been around earthquakes know that 7.0 earthquakes are off the scale of scary) at that concrete and we're talking disaster. The very weight that protects now kills.

Another problem is that Haiti has very little in the way of infrastructure. They have very little heavy equipment and very little room to maneuver around. The city is packed very tightly. How you get non-existent heavy equipment in is beyond me. Then add to that the fact that there is very little advanced medicine in the country (or even much in the way of basic medicine) and we're talking a medical epidemic certainty.

Of course, for me, I think about the sweet people that live there. They are very childlike in their approach to life and I know that many of them never even dreamed of an earthquake. Kids in California know about earthquakes and many have experienced them. But, for a Haitian, I doubt that 99% even ever thought of such a thing existed. I know that the majority of the people there, who are very fearful like a child of many things, must be terrified about going into their homes. I would think it will take a long time, if ever, for the people to get over this new threat in their lives.

So, what is to be done? I actually believe that a lot and that it can be a turning point for this country. For one thing, it will bring much, much needed relief to this country. Visiting Haiti last year I saw a country that looked like an earthquake had hit it. It was ravaged by the decades of abuse. Pat Robertson says that it is because Haitian forefathers made a pact with the Devil. I would say it is because the people there are so childlike that they're easily manipulated and there has been so much abuse of the people. Through this disaster, perhaps the people get the much needed help and that they can rebuild a city that was beyond hope without a true disaster. Perhaps, this will be a chance to start again. They can rename the city Phoenix, for it will literally need to rise out of the dust. Perhaps, in some ways, this is an answer from a loving Father in Heaven who is sending help to some of his choicest sweetest children.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Liken and Weight Loss

So, it is a new year. I actually am excited about 2010. I just love the number to start off with. I have no idea what the year will bring, but that, in and of itself, is a bit exciting. I hope that we'll be successful with our next Liken. There are so many things that can go wrong, but perhaps we'll work through all of the details. Already this year Sophie has started preschool and Aria has her first Softball tournament scheduled. I would love to have the financials for the entire year mapped out, but I guess you can't have everything. Davis and Steven continue to work out at Taekwondo (can't spell that) and Nathan continues to pose intriguing questions.

Now on to my weight loss for 2010. I entered the Biggest Loser Agle contest on New Year's Eve with my wife and daughter, who feels that she needs to lose 15 pounds, which I'm not sure is wise, but I guess Christmas took a toll on her too. I plan on losing 30 pounds going from my powerful 185 down to my college weight of 155. Coppelia is aiming the highest trying to lose 32 pounds to 135, which I think is too much, but we'll see. I, of course, love a good contest, so this one should be a lot of fun. I project it will take me 12 weeks to accomplish my goal. Weigh ins are on Tuesday night in conjunction with the show, The Biggest Loser. I'll track my progress (or the lack thereof) on this blog since it is soooooo public.

At least one thing is sure, Christmas cookies are tasty and need to be eaten only around Christmas. Wow, that was a lot of good eating. Go Liken.