There is a story I’ve heard about heaven and hell. Both have an incredible banquet set with people seated on either side of the table, but their arms cannot bend and they cannot feed themselves. So what is the difference between heaven and hell? In heaven, they reach across the table and feed one another.
As of this recording, it has been over one week since Hurricane Maria pummeled the islands and toppled Puerto Rico. It has been clear from the onset that Puerto Rico was severely hit jeopardizing water, food, health supplies, power, gasoline and living conditions for the vast majority of the 3.5 million people living there.
With all the United States military might, ships at sea, and availability of able-bodied help, one would assume this to be a no brainer. But unfortunately, red tape, bureaucracy, and a hint from the White House that Puerto Rico owes Wall Street have all served to slow down life-serving assistance to those in critical need.
Juxtapose this scenario of failed help to the armies of volunteers in the Houston and Florida areas hit by hurricane and floods just weeks prior. There are numerous fledgling bands of people coming together to step in where government has stepped down. Giving time, money and supplies human beings are showing how it can be done. They are feeding one another.
I know many of the people who are volunteering and making a difference in these places. Some of them served with me at the stand at Standing Rock. We no longer have the luxury of waiting on Uncle Sam to do what is right, perhaps we never did.
It is time for humanity to rise to what is possible, not what has been delayed. We have a choice to make; we can live in heaven or in hell. I am choosing heaven and betting more of us will.
My friend Terrence Daniels is working to bring solar power to Puerto Rico. Please help if you can.
This piece aired 9/28/17 on WDRT Driftless Community Radio on “Consider This” my spoken blog. Listen in every Thursday at 5:28 pm CST.
let kindness win 