Sending Love and Light to Lebanon

Sending Love and Light to Lebanon

Image by Gaspard Delaruelle from Pixabay

 

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you
as by the attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what happens to you
as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”

Kahlil Gibran 

Kahlil Gibran was a famous Lebanese philosophical writer and artist, born in 1883.  His most famous work was entitled; ‘The Prophet’, published in 1923.  Gibran shares many powerful insights about life through his poetry and prose which are still relevant today.  The spirit of his work is much needed in these times, and souls still draw strength, courage and hope from Gibran’s wisdom.

It is unimaginable, and absolutely appalling what has happened in Lebanon.  That such a grave mistake could happen in our modern super-tech 21st century.  In many cases people have lost their lives or loved ones, several were injured, and for the survivors of this disaster they have lost their homes and their beloved city too.  What has happened here?  Was this ‘accident’ due to greed, money, carelessness or negligence… because the people of the city of Beirut have now been drawn into this suffering?

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.”

Kahlil Gibran

This was the recent news last week.  A terrible disaster took place in Lebanon on the afternoon of 4th August 2020.  Two explosions occurred at the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.  The explosion left many dead and an estimated 300,000 people homeless.  The blast was linked to about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, an equivalent to around 1.2ktof TNT!!  This material had been confiscated in 2014 by the Lebanese government from an abandoned cargo ship, the MV Rhosus.  These explosives had been stored at the port without proper safety measures for six years!!  The blast was even detected as a seismic event by the agency, the United States Geological Survey, registering at a magnitude of 3.3, and is regarded as having been among one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history.

Tragedies don’t take permission before making their appearance.  This catastrophe certainly came uninvited at a time when the country was already going through an economic crisis, and now this unnatural disaster just exacerbates the situation.  How much more do these people need to tolerate is the big question?

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”

Kahlil Gibran

I am taking the time to write about this, because despite there being many tragedies happening in the world, whether that is due to war and conflict, or the social and economic impact on the citizens due political turmoil, in Lebanon this certainly seems to have been a manmade disaster that could have been avoided.  If officials could have taken time to discern between the important and essential matters, lives could have been saved.  This seems to be the case of sheer negligence, carelessness and slackness on behalf of the authorities who were elected to support and protect the people.

When we live in a world where there are already so many natural calamities, let us try to avoid accidents where we can.  This seems to be the most logical thinking.  But since we moved into the 21st century this appears not to be the case, it seems that our logic has gone ‘out to lunch’.  What has happened to our common sense?

Image by djedj from Pixabay

Having so much ammonium nitrate right beside a population of several million people makes no sense at all and is complete craziness.  Now, we have seen with our eyes what can happen.  Or does it just come down to cutting costs?  Where money is filtered off that should go to create safer and secure environments in which people can live?  Again, this looks like another case of profit over people… when will we learn our lessons?  That until we look after each other, and start living from the heart and with a spiritual awareness, these problems and disasters in one way or another will continue to manifest in our world.

Customs officials had written about six letters to the local judges to take action from 2014-2016.  They were flagging up the dangers of this deadly substance.  Yet nothing happened. These officials made numerous requests for the ammonium nitrate to be re-deployed; despatched to the army; or sold.  But above all for this dangerous and explosive substance to be shipped out from the port, and the highly populated residential area as soon as possible.  These officials were obviously well aware of the degree to which the presence of this material posed a serious health risk and hazard. But their requests fell upon deaf ears, therefore it was quite literally ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

Image by djedj from Pixabay

Lessons can be learnt from the Beirut explosion, and these lessons do not apply just to Lebanon.

  • Put people before profit.
  • Deal with things immediately/ take action, especially when it is a deadly substance.
  • Don’t delay.
  • Keep such explosives, deadly and toxic chemicals away from the city, and protect millions of people.
  • Do not be short sighted and careless.
  • Care more about the welfare of each other.
  • Protect our environment.
  • Take care of our dear planet.

Today the world is becoming a very small place in which we all need to live.

This disaster in Lebanon has taught us that within a few seconds the whole landscape of our world can dramatically change.  The Lebanese people are strong, intelligent and resilient.  Lebanon is such a beautiful country. The people will build another beautiful Beirut once again.  We wish love and strength to their souls.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

Kahlil Gibran

Image by djedj from Pixabay

The ‘It’s Time…’ family are sending love and light to all who have been affected by this catastrophe in Lebanon.  We are meditating morning and evening and sending out good vibes of hope and courage to help these souls rebuild their lives again.  God bless and care for them, and for all those souls all over the world who are suffering today.  Everyone please make time to send love and peace to all these souls.

It’s Time… for us to really appreciate what we have in life today… and to love more, care more… because…

“Who has ever seen tomorrow?”

Persian Proverb

 

© ‘It’s Time…’  by Aruna Ladva, BK Publications London, UK

 

 

 

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KUMUDINI

Dear Sister, I read your mails regularly. Thank you so much for updates. Your mails are too good to read & implement. God Bless !