I told my dh last night that I've had to almost PURPOSEFULLY not think about Hurricane Katrina, or it overwhelms me. But boy I tell ya, I've been just burdened for these people. I couldn't stand it anymore when I saw this man telling how he couldn't find his wife's body. The reporter had just stopped him on the street and asked how he was doing. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into and ended up crying along with him. Dh and I joined them both.

Blestwithsons opened my eyes to why many of these people stayed behind. It's so ridiculously obvious yet I'm so spoiled that it passed me by:

My friend and I were discussing all the people that were shown being rescued. "Why didn’t they leave?" she said. And I was struck by a ridiculously fresh thought. "They couldn’t afford to," I said to her, "Look at the people." The refugees shown on the television were obviously not what you would call well-to-do. It is unimaginable to me. I have never known hunger. I have never known a single day of wondering where my next meal or my rent check is coming from. Yeah sure, I had some tense moments now and again where I had overspent on little treats and had to do some juggling to make sure the rent check cleared - but never any real financial worries. Color me shamefully obtuse, but it never occurred to me that people couldn’t just whip out the plastic, head down the road, and go visit family or friends. (Or do like we did when we avoided Hurricane Isabella, head down the road to a hotel and have some fun! Go to museums, eat at restaurants, and swim in the hotel pool… ) The idea of having nowhere to go, and no resources to go with… I can’t process it.

As I loaded the dishwasher and prepared supper (with running water and electricity), I just cried and prayed. I wanted to do something but didn't even know where to begin.

And then I stumbled upon a post at Daddypundit:

As Hurricane Katrina becomes the most destructive hurricane ever, relief workers are rushing to the Gulf Coast to help out. Bloggers can help by joining Blog Relief Day tomorrow which is an idea first proposed by Hugh Hewitt and seconded by Glenn Reynolds.Here's how it works: each blogger will select a charity to encourage readers to contribute to for relief effort. Glenn Reynolds has posted a list of charities providing relief. Pick one and then go to the Truth Laid Bear registration page to register your blog and the charity that you will be supporting. Then post throughout the day and encourage readers to contribute to your charity.

La Shawn Barber is encouraging us to do the same:

Tomorrow bloggers will unite in a hurricane relief day to blog and give to the charities of their choice.

So I CAN do something in addition to praying. I have chosen Samaritan's Purse as my charity. To donate click here.

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