Like everyone, I have struggled with the hugeness of the suffering caused by this tsunami. The constant images of weeping, hopelessness and anguish take a toll, even on those of us who are not directly affected by it. But I realise that by allowing myself to be dragged down into sympathy - identifying myself with the human scene is not doing anything to help the survivors or their loved ones. With sympathy, we become part of the problem. Prayer-based compassion however, which transcends the mortal and finds the answers in the spiritual, helps one instead to become part of the solution.
Jesus could not have kept up his healing ministry, being faced day in and day out with human suffering had he not, from time to time, gone up into a mountain where he prayed all night. then, spiritually refreshed, he would come down and prove his God-given authority and dominion over all material conditions.
I have found these two articles on www.spirituality.com to help me reach that mount of inspiration:
Trauma in the tsunami aftermath: there is a way out
http://tinyurl.com/3kwh9
How you can respond to news of natural disasters
http://tinyurl.com/4hrwy
Love and peace,
Judy