Giving Thanks in the Shadows of Terror

Sunrise on the Taj Hotel, Thanksgiving Day 2008 - Photo from CNN.com

It is 12:30 pm and its now been nearly 15 hours since shootings and bombings began in downtown Mumbai. Terrorists attacked a number of populated areas including some hospitals, the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the CST train station, and Leopold's, a popular western restaurant downtown. At this time, most of the terrorists have been killed or captured, the Taj Hotel has been cleared of guests and the fire is dying down, and the military is surrounding the major metropolitan areas of the city and the attack sites. However, it is still not over yet as gunshots and explosions are still being reported in or near the Oberoi hotel and there are still a number of people being held up inside, some in the custody of terrorists and others holed up in their rooms.

The aftermath of these events will create social, political, and economic waves that may surely pass around the world. Some news reporters have been comparing this to 9/11 which for India at this moment I believe feels very similar. There is a sense of shock and disbelief followed by fear and rage that such cowardly acts would target innocent civilians and some of the most cherished landmarks and symbols of this city. This comes as a big blow to a country which continually struggles to balance the identity of being a developed world superpower and that of an overpopulated, underdeveloped nation trying to provide basic necessities to its people.

So how do we process events like these, especially as our focus shifts toward the holiday season? It is Thanksgiving day here and the city is a ghost town while Mumbaikers remain indoors waiting to hear that the strikes are over and it is again safe to resume their lives. With Thanksgiving plans being made here in Mumbai and at home in the US, how to we reconcile our own celebrations and indulgence with the events in India or elsewhere in the world? How depressingly ironic that Thanksgiving celebrates the coming together of two different cultures to set aside conflicting interests and agendas to enjoy a time of peace. So what are we thankful for? Safety....prosperity.....tranquility.....community?

My hope is that many of you will read this post on Thanksgiving morning and rethink the discusisons that will occur throughout the day as you gather with friends and family to celebrate the blessings you share. I hope that you take a moment to reflect on the way you felt the morning of 9/11, the Columbine shooting, or the Virginia Tech shooting and pause to make these events in Mumbai become more than just a dot on a map. Read the articles, look at the pictures and feel the connection.

There are issues out there today that are far bigger than ourselves and its not just in Mumbai. The flood victims of Bihar are still struggling to find clothes, food, and shelter as the winter weather closes in on them in northern India. These bombings and firefights are a weekly occurance in Iraq and througout the middle east. Africa continues to struggle with disease and genocide as the world stands idly by. So what can we do?

Think. Discuss. Pray. Volunteer. Donate. Make the issues real and take the time to get informed and look beyond the US border. For today, however, I just ask for prayers. Pray for the families affected by these tragedies. Pray that they receive support, that they have friends, family, and community to help them. Pray for the government officials who must decide how to approach the aftermath of this attack including the financial, political, and social aftershocks this will create. Pray for the city that it may continue to flourish and recover without fear or apprehension. Pray for our school and our international community that we remain out of harm's way. Give thanks for the thousands of people at these hotels and public sites that came away unharmed. Give thanks for the powers of technology to keep connected and informed in times like these. Give thanks for a school like ASB where hundreds of families of different religions, cultures, beliefs, and political affiliations can come together everyday in peaceful interaction that strengthens our global community.

We are lucky to have such a community of support from our friends and colleagues here in Mumbai as well as from our friends and families at home. We continue our attempts to enjoy the holiday season here and find ways to get involved and make a difference in the lives of those that are not so fortunate. We hope the same for you at home, that the holidays be an enjoyable time of celebration and an insightful time of reflection.

We wish you peace and safety and I leave you with the following video to spark some thought and discussion this holiday season. Blessings.

AdventConspiracy.org

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