Facing Storms

On September 19, 1985, an 8.1 earthquake struck Mexico City and the State of Mexico.

It was around 7am.  It killed between 10,000 and 40,000 people . 412 buildings collapsed, including the Medical Center, the biggest hospital in the city.

The dragon cave is located on a rocky area, where usually earthquakes are barely perceived. Yet, we felt it really hard. The core of Mexico City is built over what used to be the lake of Great Tenochtitlan, so any earthquake is felt with great intensity.

It was a terrible tragedy. However on that time, Mexicans brought out the best we have in ourselves. People united to help each other and get through this, working shoulder by shoulder.

Now it is not an earthquake on one main city, but several storms hitting the east and west coast, more coming from the south and one entering the north. Many states have been declared as Disaster Zones. There are floods everywhere, from coast to coast and what's in between.

People trapped in communities without any kind of communications because the roads are either flooded, blocked or damaged. Crops, homes, sometimes entire villages gone by overflowing rivers.

We have also suffered several floods in the city. The neighborhood where the dragon cave is located got 3 foot of water once when the nearby river overflowed due to rain. That was a couple years ago but I know what it feels to see the level of the water increasing fast. You look around helplessly as you wonder how can you save what cost you so much effort to get. On that time, Mother Dragon's greatest concern (and mine) was to save the bookshelves, the heritage of Father Dragon "The Great".  We had casualties, but thanks to some sacks of earth it was not as much as those of my neighbors. There were some who got the entire first floor flooded.

Many lost material things, some have lost their lives. But talking about those who have lost material things, I think our attitude is somehow similar. No matter how much you lose. It cost you and it hurts to see your effort lost overnight. One feels sad, disappointed, angry and frustrated. The "Why God, why me?" is inevitable and also quite common.

I watch the news because I have family all over the country. Many in both the west and east coasts. I also watch them because Mexicans stand together when our country is in need. I was taking note how could I help. And here I saw a reporter in a town in Zacatecas. He was talking to a very old man, a farmer probably in his 70's.

"The rain has ruined the whole crop. Several hectares of corn," the reporter was saying. "All lost?"

The old man nodded. "All lost. But I am thankful to God, you see? Because a year ago, the land was dry, it was dying of thirst. It needed water. It  needed to drink to recover. Yes, the flood ruined the crops and washed away many houses, but the land was dying of thirst."

"Where do you live?" the reporter asked.

"Lived. I used to live over there. That's where my house was." The old man pointed to an empty muddy spot on the mountain slope. "There's nothing left. But I'm still thankful to God 'cause the earth got the water it was dying for. I lost everything, but it doesn't matter. We'll work hard and we'll recover from this. The land has the water it needed now. It will get better. That's the important thing. Thank God for that."

I don't know what you think about this. Each of you will learn and understand whatever your heart makes out of the old man's statement. Yet, for Mother Dragon and for me, this old farmer from a distant (and now totally destroyed) village in the countryside taught us one of the greatest lessons of life.

We tend to think too much on ourselves and too little on the land that nurture us. And even the worst of tragedies can't take everything from you. The most important and most valuable thing is in your heart and your mind. No flood, earthquake, or alike can touch it... unless you allow it.

For those who wonder, Father Dragon is alright and the Dragon Cave is still standing and in no risk at the moment. Power and internet connection however, are failing sometimes if the storm is too big. Prayers for Mexico and its people will be most appreciated. Dragon Hugs!