Real World Economy Calculated One Human Life at a Time

By Brenda Black

It is mind-boggling to think how the true losses in Japan can ever be measured. As the scientist calculate the movement of the earth on its axis and search and rescue teams pile up bodies, how can they tell for certain where the earth is leaning and who has been swallowed by the sea, never to return? How will the government or city employees or business owners be able to estimate damages when every scrap of paper and every computer, office desk, chair and coffee maker lay heaped in mountains of rubbish mixed with houses, cars, light poles and transformers? The devastation is numbing and beyond numbering, but dozens of figures are being tossed around like the sea-seized Toyotas we watched wash from seaport towns across fertile Japanese plains.

A nation poised a world away has moved closer to our border, geophysicist Ross Stein at the United States Geological Survey told The New York Times. Reporter Liz Goodwin explains: “The world's fifth-largest, 8.9 magnitude quake was caused when the Pacific tectonic plate dove under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet. The quake also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sank Japan downward by about two feet.”

Thus the calculations begin and on the tail of seismic science, statisticians start crunching the numbers that estimate billion and trillion dollar figures on the economic impact, coupled with mounting death tole, including a city where probably half its population died. And this always disturbs me in the face of horrific disaster. Somehow loot and life are intermingled as if the value of yen or dollar is equal, or sadder yet, more significant than every single human being that vanished as quickly as you can rub two coins together.

I understand the overwhelming devastation to property and infrastructure. I get that events like these change industry and economies. But when I watch the nightmarish scenes, all I can think of is one man. His name Hiroaki. I haven't seen him or heard from him in 30 years, but this bright, friendly Japanese foreign exchange student was part of my high school graduating class. I remember how he described his country to me one day. I can recreate the classroom in my mind and I still see his ever-present grin. I am picturing the book he shared with me depicting his breathtaking and beautiful country. He loved his home and his family and was so thankful for my interest in what he held so dear. For some reason, his voice rings in my ear, “You must come visit someday. It is such a beautiful place!” So as all of the numbers are thrown about, I wonder about this one far removed friend, and every other one connected to him.

The world gets smaller every day. An earthquake just folded us 13 feet tighter. The internet made us feel like we were simultaneously facing the horror alongside strangers as if they were our brothers. Truth be told. They are. While you are trying to comprehend the headlines that blast us with billion dollar figures and more debate is given toward nuclear power than people, please take time to count the cost of every single human life. Then go hug your husband or wife. Tell your children you love them. Call your parents and check on your neighbors. Pray for the people of Japan and Haiti and Egypt and Iraq and Africa and America and every other war-torn, disease-riddled or weather-beaten place on the planet where people die and people survive. For we are not promised tomorrow and people matter all over the world.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Monkey See, Monkey Do
By Brenda Black

Ask a monkey. He'll tell you that the way people treat you affects the way you feel about yourself. In a study in 2003, researchers required monkeys to hand a small rock to them in order to receive a piece of food. Monkeys were happy to do this to get a piece of a cucumber. However, the bland vegetable became less enticing if one monkey saw another monkey getting a more delicious reward, like a grape, for doing the same job. The one who got the cucumber became very agitated, threw out the food, threw out the rock and eventually stopped performing at all.

Let's face it, there's a lot of monkey business in this world that shapes self-image and affects our behavior. Suppose you've worked hard on a project for years. Then, in one sweeping changing-of-the- guard, all your effort and sacrifice for the company is ignored while someone else gets undeserved credit and gladly takes the grape. You react by throwing rocks or tantrums and end up with a cumbersome attitude – all because another human dictated your worth.

If it is not matters of management and money, quite possibly personal value is determined by matters of the heart. After months of dinner dates and sharing your dreams with the one you believe could be “The One,” he or she decides their feelings aren't amorous. Instead of the joy that you've exuded of late, sorrow consumes your heart. Suddenly you see yourself as worthless instead of wonderful because some guy or girl didn't return your affections.

We may feel stressed, shirked, silenced, stupid, or insignificant depending on another's opinion. And those internalized assessments shape our self-image as well as our outward mannerisms. But are they justified.

“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.' So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-23, 4:1-5)

The Apostle Paul wasn't into monkey business. He understood the merit of a man is measured by the standards of God, not mere mortals. God sees us through the eyes of perfect love. He knows our flaws and failures. He believes in our abilities when we doubt them ourselves. He made us and bids us to draw our worth not in works but in the work he is doing in and through us.

The Lord esteems. The Lord encourages. The Lord enlightens. The Lord embraces. The Lord's opinion is accurate and fair. The world's opinion is fickle and fleeting. When you see yourself through the eyes of this world, you'll always feel defeated and never good enough. There is no room for jealousy or self-loathing when the Creator sees you as perfect. If you are a child of the King, walk with the understanding that you are loved. As you view yourself at the foot of the cross, the eyes of your soul reveal true worth. Stop swinging from the trees trying to win the favor of men. Kneel before the cross and find true value in the eyes of the King .