"There were lives being lost in the darkness."

I heard from the State Trooper who happened to be present during all of the flooding last month at Albert Pike. Apparently, the river rose around 20 feet in just 5 hours, immediately drowning about a dozen people. The state trooper said that after the water subsided, he drove to the campground side of the river, and could see bodies of men, women, and children scattered on the ground. I honestly can't imagine what I would feel in that situation.

What boggles my mind even more, though, is that 16 people killed in 5 hours of flooding is still just a drop in a bucket compared to the lives that are lost everyday due to preventable things like starvation, malaria, bombs, dysentery, "friendly" fire, &c.

What can one person do? Do I have to change everything in my life to make a difference? Is it possible to make a difference? How can I be involved in promoting justice in my community now? How can I help to foster real community in my community now? Community where everyone has a part, everyone contributes, everyone feels like they have purpose, everyone feels loved, everyone has someone they can make feel loved. Where no one feels too small, no one feels like they can't help because of whatever inadequacy they feel they have.

I really enjoy reading Shane Claiborne's books. One thing that he says that I really appreciate is this: "...we can tell the world that there is life after death, but the world really seems to be wondering if there is life before death."

How can I have and share life, real life, before death?