Japan earthquake

“Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.” (Revelation 16:18)

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

We read with sadness on the severe earthquake and tsunami that took place in Japan on 11th March 2011. The damage of the nuclear reactors compounded the already dire situations there. When asked to describe how they felt, a Japanese couple aptly put it: It is like the end of the world.

Life is full of uncertainty and we must learn to treasure those who are dear to us and not to take them for granted. In fact, in today’s Straits Times, it was reported that a security guard on his first day of work, was crushed to death by the one-ton metal gate that fell on him as he was closing it.

For one thing, the Japanese have shown tremendous resilience in the face of their worst crisis since WWII. It was reported that so far there is no looting and crime. They also have the nuclear plant workers (‘The Fukushima 50’), the unsung heroes who risk their lives trying to avert a nuclear disaster.

Can Singapore go nuclear in future? The government has earlier on said that it is looking into this option. If there is a nuclear meltdown, even a partial one, there is no way anyone can avoid the radiation leak on this small island. In Chernobyl disaster, the radioactive dust particles actually travelled as far as Europe. May be it is a reminder to us to take stock whether we have used the natural resources that God has endowed us with-wisely.

My eldest daughter had actually planned to go to Tokyo on a 10-day free & easy last year, and she could only travel either last November or mid- March this year. I encouraged her to go earlier than later because of the uncertainty of my health conditions. On hindsight she made the right decision. I believe there is divine intervention in it.