Random thoughts
With the generosity of the countries around the world donating money, kind, sending man power, military vehicles etc towards the victims of the tsunami has sparked a controversy, which is the "competition" of who can give more. Just read today's news on STI entitled "Stingy", saying countries like China, Malaysia and Arab nations have been frown upon for not giving enough. So the question here how much is enough in the eyes of the world? Do we measure one's generosity by how much we can give or how many military personnels we are sending or how many tons of kind are being flown to the affected countries of the tsunami?
Indeed the more help given it surely alleviate the problems in those affected countries are facing but hopefully it would not become a stage of "beauty contest" of other countries boasting how much they have given or pledging to give. We are taught charity comes from the heart so if some countries who unable to give hundreds of millions we should not make noise out of it. They too may have problems of their own. I am sure at this moment they are countless homeless people on the streets, children in orphanage, abuse children in foster care that are not affected by the tsunami but that does not mean they have to be neglected.
Perhaps this is God's work of waking us up of the existing problems in front of our eyes but somehow we unable to see until come this disaster that cause children to lose their parents, people lost their homes, no food, no water. All these are already existing problems in countries like Africa but do we really sit up and took notice of it?
The bottom line is give what you can give. Don't point to others who can't give as much as you. And charity does not stop here. They are millions out there who are not affected by the tsunami who needs money, food, water, education, homes to continue living. I sincerely hope the overwhelming help from various countries would not become a political agenda.
Indeed the more help given it surely alleviate the problems in those affected countries are facing but hopefully it would not become a stage of "beauty contest" of other countries boasting how much they have given or pledging to give. We are taught charity comes from the heart so if some countries who unable to give hundreds of millions we should not make noise out of it. They too may have problems of their own. I am sure at this moment they are countless homeless people on the streets, children in orphanage, abuse children in foster care that are not affected by the tsunami but that does not mean they have to be neglected.
Perhaps this is God's work of waking us up of the existing problems in front of our eyes but somehow we unable to see until come this disaster that cause children to lose their parents, people lost their homes, no food, no water. All these are already existing problems in countries like Africa but do we really sit up and took notice of it?
The bottom line is give what you can give. Don't point to others who can't give as much as you. And charity does not stop here. They are millions out there who are not affected by the tsunami who needs money, food, water, education, homes to continue living. I sincerely hope the overwhelming help from various countries would not become a political agenda.