THEY CALLED IT TSU-NA-MIE


MasyAllah.

I remember Geography lessons in school, whenever we were taught about the Ring of Fire, the class would be ended with a claim, slightly tinged with hubris- "Unlike its neighbours, Malaysia is fortunate to be excluded from the Rim of Fire". Not for us the sudden devastation of volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tidal waves, aftershocks.

Until last Sunday.

Atheists would say that Sunday's tragedy had nothing to do with God. Scientists would tell us that two massive undersea tectonic plates, out of random coincidence, simply crashed. I'm neither an atheist nor a scientist, I'm afraid. I believe that it is impossible for the human mind to fully comprehend the nature and rationale behind the power of God. I don't know why tragedies happen, but I do know this- to me they act as a reminder to those who are left behind, shaking their heads, hands clasped to mouths.

They remind us that life, despite political upheavals, civilization, evolution, what we call progress- is too short. They remind us that everything, even countries, can be swept away in a matter of moments. They remind us that God is always there.

Always.