Suddenly the ground shudders, buildings rock, and concrete and steel come raining down on innocent people. That is what the people in Haiti have been experiencing over the past couple of weeks. We've watched on television as people are pulled from rubble--some alive, some dying, many already dead.

Yet, even with television, we may feel somewhat remote from those events. We continue to go about our daily routines with an occasional thought, particularly as we watch the news or read the newspaper, about what is happening far away.

Perhaps it is not that far away after all. It wasn't that long ago that Hurricane Katrina devastated a large part of New Orleans and prevented many people from going back to their homes for months and even years. Hurricane Andrew caused similar massive damage in south Florida several years ago. In these cases, people like us who were just going about their lives suddenly found themselves without homes, food, or clothing.

Recently, I was listening to an acquaintance talk about the Teton Dam flood in northeastern Idaho in 1976. People were driven from their homes and even watched their food storage as it floated away, damaged beyond possible use. Thanks to many people who arrived from other places, those affected by the flood were able to get their lives back together.

A similar event could occur along the Wasatch Front at anytime. Geologists tell us we're long overdue for a major earthquake. When it comes, homes will be destroyed, hospitals and other relief services will be strained, and, possibly, many people will be killed. Fortunately, we have more earthquake-proof structures than the people in Haiti had. But there could still be massive destruction.

At that point, our time may come when we too rely on the good will of many others from around the country and throughout the world to help us get back on our feet.  Now we are the givers, but some day we may be the recipients. That is how community works. When we think beyond ourselves, we see the needs of others and help to provide what they lack. When there is a culture of helping others beyond our immediate families, then not only are they blessed by our service, but we are in turn blessed by the service of others when we, too, face need.  The Haitian earthquake reminds us that, ultimately, we are all global community members, givers and recipients, brothers and sisters.