Took this picture from my flight back from Kunming, China. Was transiting from Chengdu.
The people in Sichuan have basically normalized and getting back into their daily routines. As we went around to some of the temporary settlements for these displaced residents, we are greeted by the smiles of many of these survivors. Occasionally, you can hear the laughter of the children in the midst of their games.
It is comforting to see many of the survivors are gearing to move on or are even moving on despite the many uncertainties that lies ahead. Many councelling or psychology help groups were already there to provide psychology assistance to help many of these survivors to come to terms with the earthquake, their current situations and even their loss. Many even tell them that they have to move on now because they should not dwell in the past and what matters is their future. They have to let og of the past soon. However, have they really dealt with the grief of their loss or they are just simply suppressing once again their emotions because everyone is moving on?
I know and I believe that they have to move on, but at such a large degree of loss (some physically, some relationally <death of love ones etc>, some emotionally and some psychologically), I think they deserve a bit more time to go through the griefing process. Is 1 month sufficient? I don’t know, but I pray that the emotional and psychological help will continue and not just a hype, because, if not dealt with carefully, it will have greater impact in the future or even generations to come.
“The Lord watches over you –
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night” Ps 120: 5-6 (NIV)