Matters of the Heart

In talking with friends and neighbors about this lava event, I find we are all experiencing the same thing -- days when we function rather normally, running errands, working the garden, going to work, etc.  Then, there are days when there is an identifiable withdrawal and a sort of hollowness.  I suspect this comes from the need to balance out all the thoughts and emotions in the face of such powerful uncertainty.

On one hand we are provided facts and figures about lava flow and its day-by-day progression like the factual but frightening chart that suggests (based on science and measurements) that Pele's flow will reach the ocean by ? Thanksgiving YIKES! or Christmas.  (At the same time two of our neighbors are supposed to be moving into their brand new beautiful houses.)

The facts then take on a more personal perspective -- echoed in the second photo of lava creeping through the Buddhist Cemetery in Pahoa.  As lava travels through this local landmark, please take a few moments to read the tender article by Molly Solomon with Hawaii Public Radio as she takes a tour and talks about the Pahoa Japanese Cemetery's 250 graves dating back to 1905. 

http://hpr2.org/post/searching-family-roots-pahoa

Seeing this picture reminds us there are lives at stake -- homes, people and pets. Sometimes it is hard to wrap our heads around the facts and figures, when our hearts are trying to take in the loss.

Be kind to yourself; be kind to others.  
We are all doing the best we can.