[Ailist] Off topic ... Victorian bushfires

[Robyn Stratton-Berkessel]

Dearest Sue,

Yes, my heart, prayers and thoughts are with you and all those  
impacted.  I was shocked and saddened as I woke up yesterday - Sunday  
here - to read the top story my Yahoo home page and I went through  
every 130 slides and read stories in the Age, The SMH and The  
Australian.  I also spent time on Google Earth identifying the  
townships mentioned.  I emailed people I knew to offer my heartfelt  
messages and somehow you slipped my conscious mind.  So I am so  
thankful you sent this email to the AIlist.  I realize you are very  
close by.

I have just finished reading "Broken Open" by Elizabeth Lesser and it  
speaks to the very topic you remind us of.  That in moments of  
greatest need we find our common humanity and are there for each  
other, and the opportunity for our greatest learning.   I made a  
comment yesterday to my husband, as I am hobbling around on crutches  
at the moment,  that as I struggle with doors and bags, just about  
every second person offers to help in some way.  The kindness shown is  
truly touching and opens us to and for each other.   I saw a statistic  
that the highest ranked common virtue on the VIA survey is "kindness".

My love to you, Sue.

Robyn.
Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com
Founder, L.I.T. Global www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb



On Feb 8, 2009, at 7:56 PM, Sue James wrote:


Hi everyone ..

It has been far too long since I've written a post to the list,  
although I have been (barely!) keeping up with reading them all.

I realise this is an off-topic message for the list, but am writing to  
ask if you could send your thoughts and prayers for all the people  
here in Victoria affected by our worst bushfire crisis in the state's  
history.

None of my immediate family or friends are directly affected, though  
we still don't know the situation of some of our colleagues and  
network contacts.

Last Saturday saw a horrendous increase in the number and severity of  
the fires (over 400 of them across the state), with the highest  
temperature in Victoria's recorded history (approx 115 degrees  
Farenheit) and very strong, hot north winds.
We had a cool change come through on Saturday evening, with a change  
in wind direction - so although it helped in some ways, it also sent  
several of the fires in new directions. A mumber are still burning out  
of control.

Latest figures this morning are 108 dead, hundreds of injuries, 20  
people with dreadful burns who battling for their lives in hospital,  
over 5,000 people now homeless and over 300,000 hectares of land  
burned out.
For a relatively small population, compared with elsewhere in the  
world, these numbers are devastating. Figures are also expected to  
climb much higher, as fire and emergency crews are able to move into  
the burnt areas to look for bodies and assess damages.
Whole townships have been completely wiped out.

Arson investigations are also taking place in relation to all fires -  
the news is that some of them were deliberately lit, although others  
were caused by the extreme weather and lightning strikes.

So please spare a thought and/or a prayer for the families involved -  
those who have lost their homes and loved ones, as well as all those  
incredible souls who are fighting the fires or supporting their  
neighbours and communities in other ways.

This horrendous situation is also a reminder to us that in the very  
worst of times, wonderful things also emerge. One of the paradoxes of  
life - when we experience both 'the worst of times and the best of  
times', to misquote a saying.
There are stories of amazing courage and resilience, of people  
reaching out a helping hand and heart to help those affected, and of  
quietly voiced 'can do' attitudes in the face of incredible danger or  
loss.

(If you are interested, more news on the situation, as well as some of  
these stories can be seen on the website of our Melbourne newspaper,  
The Age at http://www.theage.com.au/ )

Thank you for your time in reading this, and for all positive thoughts  
and energy you can send 'downunder'.

Warm regards
Sue
-- 

Sue James
Facilitator & Consultant
Ph: +613 9758 2528
BJ Seminars International
inspiring and connecting people
www.bjseminars.com.au
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