When we boarded our plane, just hours before Typhoon Morakot hit the island of Taiwan, I never imagined that such devastation would follow. The images of rushing water and the ruinous mud-slides filled the international air-waves for days. Now a month or so later it is estimated that over 700 people died in Taiwan as a result of this horrific storm. The village of Shiao-Lin, not far from where we stayed in Kaohsiung, was completely buried in mud.
The havoc of natural disasters both near and far away is not uncommon. Yet it was the proximity of this particular catastrophe to the places that we had just journeyed that has left me searching anew. I have wondered often how the people of that land, people of a difference culture and religious upbringing, might cope or find meaning and consolation. Shortly after we returned home I began receiving regular e-mail updates from the Bishop of Taiwan. He outlined the massive relief efforts that slowly unfolded and offered insight from his minority view as a Christian in a culture that is hugely influenced by traditional Buddhist and Taoist beliefs and practices. Bishop Lai shared that August 20 – September 20 is known as Ghost Month. It is of traditional Taiwanese belief that “the gates of hell are opened on this day and that the ghosts come out and fly around for a whole month. People make food offerings in the hope that the ghosts will eat the food and not bother them. Every year during Ghost Month there is a lot of fear in evidence and people will not do anything during this month like getting married, moving house, having a surgery, even staying in a hospital.” He added that “the timing of Ghost Month closely following the typhoon, means that people are even more worried, nervous and fearful than ever… people have no peace, we are using this month to pray for the people of Taiwan, for their redemption, release from fear and that the Holy Spirit may touch their lives”. I have joined Bishop Lai’s appeal for prayers at 8:08pm each evening. I have also kept in touch with and prayed for my new colleague in ministry, the Rev. Justin Lin, who with members of St. Timothy’s has been assisting is some of the most severely damaged areas. I was strengthened by the controversial visit of the Dalai Lama. My son Graham told me that it was a massive crowd gathered at Kaohsiung Arena for a Prayer Service. Even the Dalai Lama noted that it made for holy chaos with so many people chanting prayers in various languages. It was all about “presence”… the presence of the great Buddhist leader whose message of love and hope lifted the spirits of many including me. And now, I am left wondering “what if” we never made it out?