I do not think that ascribing the various random occurances to G-d's doing are worth our energy. I think the best we can do is to enjoy the gifts we receive (from whatever or wherever), and do our best to minimize the suffering. At any rate, things like weather and geological events are things we cannot affect much.

However, there are many tragedies that are made by humans that we CAN do much about. And about those things, I think we SHOULD do much. Some of the human suffering around the world may be in some ways due to natural forces. But some of those natural forces were caused or exacerbated by human activity, like the desertification of many tracts of land, some caused by over-population that could have been avoided by human activity. And much human suffering is a direct result of inequitable distribution of resources. And that, too can be avoided by changes in human behavior.

The bigger tragedies, to me, are that so much human suffering can be alleviated, but that the (human) powers-that-be actively choose against such changes.

Ebbie, I, too am overwhelmed from watching the various large scale tragedies that we have seen over the last several weeks. I have done my share of crying, and I have sent some money.

Daylia, I, too have taken note of some wonderous and wonderful goings on around me. I played the other day for a College benefit, and no one in the audience noticed any of my many mistakes. Instead, they were effusive in their praise and appreciation. And just this morning, it was nice and cool after the rain, and I had a sensational smoke of a new tobacco blend in a new pipe.