To those who are suffering/wondering about disasters

Why I selected Psalm 111 for consolation of those suffering from the mining disasters (Utah, China, and others), the earthquake in Peru, and others who are enduring natural and industrial disasters.

"The works of the Lord are great" and "His work is honorable and glorious"
Remember that the work of the Lord is the existence of a living earth upon which there can be life. The Lord does not cause an earthquake or collapse a mine. The Lord created an earth where there are geological movements so that land and water can exist at all to sustain life. The Lord created an earth where there are weather systems that renews the air and the water. The Lord created an earth where people can retrieve from its interior ores and minerals to create dwellings and provide heat and light to homes and businesses. So when you look at a work of the Lord, it is not the earthquake, but the living and breathing planet that has maintained life on it for several billion years, and the like of which has not yet been seen, despite much peering through telescopes.

"I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation"
I thought of the dear people who perished in churches during the Peru earthquake. But just as there were people in churches doing the Lord's work, there were people who were pursuing their vocations as families, as caregivers, as humble workers, as civil servants and safety personnel... one does not have to be in church to be among the assembly of the upright. So while there is always pathos and a degree of numinosity when people experience a natural disaster in a church, it is not like it is either an insurance policy against life, or a target, no more than if a nursing home is hit, or a school, a hospital, a bank. There is a special blessing at being in a place of worship, however, because one is exercising one's grace at the moment that one might be unexpectedly called. If anything, the collapse of a church shows that the Lord is with all of the people, showing no favorites, providing no Plexiglas dome, but loving and being with all people at all times.

"He hath given meat unto them that fear him"
The Lord gives tangible gifts ("meat") to those that fear him (by fear we mean to remember that one values and honors love of the Lord above all worldly things, and to fear ever losing the Lord through one's neglect or lack of faith.) The tangible gifts in time of disaster are the planners who might have added extra earthquake reinforcement to a building years ago, and who may now have saved lives through their planning. They are the government and the police who, understaffed and perhaps overwhelmed, are now going to try to do the right thing. The tangible gifts are those who have who will help those who have not. The tangible gifts are the assurance of salvation and eternal life, and the loss of all tears and suffering, for those who died in the arms of the Lord. This generation is particularly deficient in a proactive safety oriented love of neighbor, whether it be an unsafe mine, or lack of planning in an earthquake zone. Those in the USA have no reason to feel particular pride in this area. Love of neighbor in this day and age means much "what if" protective planning and investment in safety, even if it means less material profit. So those who fear the Lord tend to be more loving of neighbor in a way that mitigates the suffering that occurs in natural or industrial disasters.

"He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen"
The heathen viewed disasters as being punishment from pagan gods, or blamed children as being "witches" (as still happens in Africa) or find false spiritual explanations. The Lord gives people intelligence and wisdom to perceive the power of his works (the workings of the earth) and thus people can respond and benefit from this wisdom, claiming the unclaimed heritage of the heathen who only wrings his or her hands and blames. Notice that tsunami warning was very effective in the past several years since the disaster in Indonesia. This is an example of wisdom gained by understanding the power of the Lord's work (how the natural forces of the earth manifest and their implications.) I'm still waiting to see if the levee design in New Orleans will demonstrate wisdom learned from the power of the Lord's works, so that they may seize the heritage of the heathen. Always after a natural or industrial disaster, humankind must look to how they can learn, improve, recover, and more effectively protect their neighbor and their children going forward.

"The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure."
Can you imagine if God had designed a world that worked like most human corporations? That once in a while there is a firing or downsizing, and people are flung off of the earth into space? Rather than view natural and industrial disasters as being signs of a capricious, or nonexistent God, the one sure thing in life is that God has provided a planet where life can thrive. Earth is actually the Lord's "verity" and "judgment" because the ability to live and thrive is an absolute guarantee, to the point where earth even renews and cleanses despite polluting abuse. The Lord's commandments are sure because it is through obedience to them that humans are best able to both thrive in the reality of earthly life, but also to ensure eternal life. God is the steadiest force that ever existed; it is humans who are unpredictable, uncertain, and capricious.

"Holy and reverent is his name" and "his praise endureth for ever"
If people do not love and revere the name of the Lord and praise him, how much little will they care for each other, the Lord's children, their neighbors? If one does not recognize God and praise his constancy in his giving of life, both earthly and eternal, how can they recognize God in their suffering neighbor? There is a famous quotation by a chaplain in World War II, saying "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." Likewise I see people of faith, such as the Mormons, loading a jet with supplies to send to their brethren in Peru. Reverence for the name of the Lord should inform and stimulate all of human's actions. When one is helping one's brother or sister or child in God to recover from tragedy, one is hence doing all that one can and blessed will be his or her endeavors. If anything, the constancy of God's love and holiness is a sustaining force through the worst of tragedies. God did not take away human's desire to run their own affairs on earth, even after many sins. Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. People need to revere and keep holy their relationship with God, as they deal simultaneously with the reality of life and the potential for tragedy. Remember that Jesus had a human step father, St. Joseph, who died. If God was going to take away self determination and the dignity of a full life, would God have not given Joseph a life span of centuries perhaps? No... because physical life is to be lived, and eternal life is to be sought. So Jesus mourned the death of his stepfather, of his friend Lazarus (who he brought to life only because miracles were part of his ministry during years of his public life), and felt acutely the suffering of those in travail. But God has a covenant with humans that they are given the Commandments and the knowledge of God's holiness and love, and in return, humans live the life of their own self determination that they so insisted on through time back to the fall in Eden. Therefore "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." When one remembers to keep the name of God holy, one's hands can better tend to relieving the suffering (and mitigating it in the future) of one's brothers and sisters, one's neighbors in God.