Editorial Reflections

Disasters help overcome divisions

 

As our community continues to recover from fire, we continue to remember all those that affected by fire and all those that work tirelessly to help.

These last few days we have seen and witnessed how people come together and work together to help each other.

This week we heard the news of the earthquake in Columbia. We know that aid and help are pouring in from different places, including through United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We witness the message of Psalm 133 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity"

It is good and pleasant for us to be together in unity and harmony in doing what is good and what is right.

If it is good and pleasant to come together, to live together, to work together for the good of all-—why then do we only do that when disasters or bad things happen? Why do we not do it all the time instead of waiting to bad time?

These last few days we see how many boundaries have broken so that people can able to come together and work for the good of the community as a whole—helping each other.

The sad part if that, what always happens is that after everything seems to be settled, these boundaries will emerge again and divide us.

We remember when the Covid pandemic hit—the political boundaries, ethnic and other boundaries that separate and divide us seemed to melt away and disappear. People came together to help each other and work together.

When things settled and become normal—those boundaries emerged again. Sadly, these old/new boundaries become harder to break or to overcome.

It is hard because we live in a time and in a society where individualism is so strong and the concept of the nuclear family dominates our way of thinking. We build boundaries and fences that cut ties even from our extended family and relatives.

When we so focus on ourselves and forget others, we do not know how much we miss, how far we are behind in a lot of things. We are created to live together as a community, to work together, to love and help each other.

Our safety is based and bound to the safety of our neighbors. I cannot claim that I am safe when others are not safe. We learned that from the fire that happened. Some neighbors, fire fighters, first responders worked very hard to protect their house—and in doing so they were able to protect others too.

Our gifts should be an enrichment to our neighbors who do not have the same gifts. Neighbors' gifts should be an enrichment to all those who does not have those gifts.

Ikani Fakasiieiki
Pastor of Liberty Park and St. Paul's United Methodist Church