Wake Up! Open Your Eyes!

 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them,    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

                                                --Isaiah 58: 6-9

I was recently hit hard by the reality of the suffering going on in the Horn of Africa right now. I always knew there was poverty in Africa. In fact "the starving children of Africa" have unwittingly become utterly (and cruelly) cliche due to their endless suffering. We, the fortunate, have become so "accustomed" to the suffering of the unfortunate that we barely take notice anymore.

Did you know that there has been no rain in this region of Africa for more than 2 years?
Did you know that 12 million people are in danger of starving to death because they've lost their crops and their livestock and have absolutely no means of feeding themselves?
Did you know that there are toddlers that weigh less than a healthy newborn should weigh ( <10lbs) because they're so malnourished ?
Did you know that families have completely uprooted themselves and, starving as they are, are walking incredible distances in hopes of getting food for themselves and their children in the next country?
Did you know that humanitarian agencies are saying the crisis is so severe that they need 2.5 billion dollars at minimum to help the famine victims and the "fortunate" countries have only committed to attempting to raise 1 billion?

This crisis, which, in terms of death toll, is one of the worst disasters in human history, is going largely unnoticed by Western media. There is a plug here or there, but the story has been largely overshadowed by other matters. Because, after all, the "cliche" of starving children in Africa is only going to fall on deaf ears. No one is interested in that anymore. No one cares.

Or do they?

We have been called to rise above, to give generously, to ease the suffering of others. It really brings me a great deal of shame that my husband and I have sighed as we look into our pantry or fridge--with it's abundance of food and ingredients--only to turn away exasperated because there's "nothing good to eat". It dumbfounds me that a life could be saved, a stomach could be filled, an agony could be transformed with the money I waste on frivolities. It amazes me that what little coverage there is in the media is always, ironically, prefaced with "disclaimers" to protect viewers from the disturbing images that follow.

I really do ask that you reflect on this. Seriously reflect on this.

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Overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Horn_of_Africa_famine

Newsclip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n645u0x470

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