Fertile and Fragile

We flew this morning to meet with project partners in Meulaboh. This region is days away from marking the third anniversary of that once-in-a-century tsunami that thrashed Indonesia, killing 120,000 persons and leaving 500,000 without homes. But Indonesians are never more than moments away from the next potential disaster. On average, there is an earthquake a day, vastly more here than anywhere in the world, while many of these are minor tremors, our earth is frightfully alive. Seventy five active volcanoes foment in this parlous and perilous place they call "the ring of fire." Deep, shifting underwater events make another tsunami inevitable.

Ironically, this tumultuous topography also provides soil for stunning, verdant fertility. That's why one of the first places I will go when I return to Monique and Baltimore is a local florist. During these travel trips I've decided I must be surrounded with more plants, more growing things in my life, especially in my home and my office. Green is not only delightful to the senses, it's good for the soul. The longest season of the church-year is adorned appropriately in such verdure.

Every season in Indonesia is both fertile and fragile. That's why Lutheran World Relief has made a 10 year strategic commitment here. Our LWR delegation will see tomorrow the steps taken to help rebuild lives in Kuala Bubon. Arguably, there is one thing even more crucial than recovering from the disaster of 26 December 2004; it is developing this community so that these fisher folk will be less vulnerable when our living planet makes its next mighty move.