And then came a giant Tsunami

News about the earthquake and the Tsunami has hit the news for a few days now. The number of some deaths have been published, while others still being being searched.

Just the sight of the rows and rows and rows of bodies in Acheh brought tears to my eyes. And the destruction in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, just to name a few, makes me realize how small we humans are in the grand scale of things.

Part of me asked, why God? Why here? Why these people? What did they do to deserve this?

On the other hand I recognize that God Almighty is all knowing and its not my place to ask these things.

These are places where the locals weren't very wealthy. Some are people whose lives dependent on the sea while others on the tourism industry.

And those families on holidays. Perhaps they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time? Or that it was predestined that life will be taken from them like that.

If anything, what is reinforced to me is that life is transient. One should grasp all oppurtunities that is presented to you and relish it while you can.

Because you don't know when your time is up.

You might be taken by a huge tidal wave, a typhoon, an earthquake or perhaps just right at your own front door or even while you're sleeping. Its not to say that one should focus on impending death, but rather recognize it is an eventuality.

Death the Leveller
James Shirley 1506 - 1666

THE glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown	5
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crookèd scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill:	10
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still:
Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath	15
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
The garlands wither on your brow,
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.	20
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.