On the Bright Side

Good Day Everyone,

I stared to write a long discord on the troubles of the past that have turned most people away from giving to the needy. The grumbles of New Orleans, the greed of Wall Street, the failing economic system that has so many people with less than they had a year or so ago. I don't want those things to take center stage, that happens more than necessary already. What I want you to get out of this post is a simple single message.

Recently the people of Haiti suffered a terrible tragedy when an earthquake turned their country into shambles. The world began reacting, sending help, and supplies as quickly as possible. At our place of business we have a large number of Haitians, so our company, like so many others, began doing whatever they could. We set up computers and removed firewalls so anyone who wanted could go on Face Book, or Twitter and try connecting with friends and families. We set up phone banks to allow them to call anyone they wanted for free. We set up a large TV so they could watch for any news updates.

We knew that in the early stages most phone lines wouldn't be working, and that the infrastructure for Internet activity would not be available into Haiti, but we hoped that through the social networks available today, that some word would trickle out. What we offered wasn't much, but it was heartfelt, and full of hope and promise.

I only spent a few minutes in the communication center, and it was heart wrenching to see the worry on faces and hear the fear in their voices. Each time someone would dial the phone and hear the all too familiar busy signal, their hopes and spirit were tested. You could see them physically shrink in their seat, and then slowly steel themselves back to hold onto what little hope there was that everyone was safe.

On the Bright Side

Less than a week after the disaster, most of our friends had heard from someone and at least they knew better what was going on in their home country and with their friends and family. The disaster was wide spread. One news person reported that every family had cried in Haiti.

I returned to my office one afternoon and found a card laying on my desk. As I opened it and read it, I sank into my chair. I read it several times in preparation of sharing it with my team. The card was a simple one, pure white with a delicate watery world background, a single word at the top of the card read "Thanks", and the inscription inside read "In this busy world, where there never seem to be enough hours in the day...you always find the time to share yourself with others." Very touching, but what hit me was the handwritten note on the back of the front cover of the card. Here is how it reads.

Dear Mr. Robert
Thank you for being a voice on behalf of the Haitian people, in this chaotic time of great challenges. I strongly believe that the lord has inspired you to take lead and encourage others to join the cause. May God greatly open the windows of heaven and pour out his blessing upon you and the people of the U.S.A. that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Prov. 28:27 "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack"....
Jean P. Rheau

Now how is that for a Bright Side? I have to tell you there was not a dry eye in the house when I read this to our team. After receiving the card, we have doubled our efforts to help, and keep finding new ways to being the voice of those who are challenged.

Please remember there are a lot of people who need our help. There are voices whom we can not hear, unless we choose to listen. Please open your ears and your heart to hear their stories, and help even if it is in a little way. When the world is in the worst of times, always..........look on the bright side of life.