In the last several days I have seen #PrayForParis explode all over social media, many Facebook friends change their profile pictures to support France, but have hardly seen any support for these other natural disasters and human tragedies happening worldwide. The purpose of this article is to succinctly bring awareness to all of these issues that occurred on Friday, November 13th, 2015, and provide a bit of hope in trying times.
Paris
ISIS has claimed to be responsible. At least six highly populated sites were attacked, the deadliest being a concert hall with 80 killed. There are at least 99 seriously injured. The current death toll is 129–one of which was an American CSU Long Beach student studying design abroad, three of which were Chileans, two were from Belgium, two from Mexico, two from Spain, one from Portugal, one from the United Kingdom and numerous French citizens. Other nations whose citizens were killed have yet to identify those victims. [1]
Japan
An earthquake with a magnitude 7.0 hit 90 miles off the coast Makurazaki. It created a small tsunami and the quakes have caused seismic sea waves. There are aftershocks – the most recent, as I write this, being a magnitude 4.5 occurred near Kyushu. There were no initial reports of damages or injuries. [2]
Baghdad
ISIS is assumed to be responsible, but there has been no claim. A suicide bomber killed 17 and injured 33 at a funeral in a mosque. The funeral was held for a member of the Iranian-supported Shiite milias, Popular Mobilisation units. They are some of the leading men against ISIS, who took over large portions of the country last year. [3]
Beirut
Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility. Two suicide bombings in the capital of Lebanon resulted in 41 deaths and over 200 injured. The first detonated inside of a mosque while the second detonated inside of a bakery on a busy market street. The body of a third who failed to detonate was found. A day of national mourning was held. [4]
Mexico
An earthquake with a magnitude 4.3 hit about 31 miles east of Maneadero. There have been no initial reports of damages or injuries. [5]
The world is broken. It is imperfect. It is filled with cruelty and evil. It is saturated in pain and blood. All of which are products of sin and the Fall which are the result of human inadequacy. I don’t know who people are praying to, but I am praying to the One True God–the Eternal, Everlasting, Loving, and Almighty God. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, always present, and unchanging.
"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress" (Psalm 107:28)
"…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…" (Ephesians 6:17-18).
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
It is so encouraging to see the world come together in support, but why does it seem that the majority of people are more interested in the tragedy of France rather than having an equivalent interest in these other countries as well? Maybe it hits closer to home for some, while others use only Facebook as their source of news updates. I really do not know. I remember the #AllLivesMatter movement, it still applies here in an even broader fashion than what it was intended for. All lives are equally valuable.
