By some accounts, the 2010 Haiti Earthquake could end up being the worst natural disaster in modern history. I’m not sure exactly what metrics are used to measure the severity of a disaster, but I’m sure the highest would be in the cost of human life.

The response to this disaster has been overwhelming, at least at the outset, with the Red Cross reportedly raising over $5 million via text message donations alone (which has exceeded the total amount raised in this manner for all of last year). Highly visible and excruciatingly tragic events such as this always seem to amass a large amount of support very quickly.

Looking at the response and the outcry as it plays out in the media, and in online social networking sites has led me to wonder about myself, and my reactions to disaster. In an event of this magnitude, it seems almost natural to pray, and to give, and to support those who are trying to help. I find, however, in other situations, my response may not be as passionate and as natural as it should.

Every day, all around us, people are facing disaster in one way or another. Someone’s lost a home, lost a job, lost a spouse to divorce or an untimely death, lost a child, or lost hope. They’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or a potentially terminal illness, or they may have just given up on life. They are the discouraged, the broken, the downtrodden, the homeless, the jobless, and the friendless masses we walk by without noticing.  They are not literally digging out of the rubble of a collapsed home or building brought down by an earthquake, but they have been similarly impacted. Their life has become a disaster.

But for them, there is no international relief organization on it’s way, no telethon, no fundraisers, no worldwide prayer vigil. Thinking about them today makes me almost feel powerless to help, because I know that there are so many in need, but so little time and resources at my disposal.

Doesn’t every disaster deserve a response? What can I, what can WE do in the face of disaster?

If you haven’t already heard, a powerful earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

It is estimated that over 100,000 have died, many more are trapped, and up to 3 million Haitians will require some sort of help to recover from this disaster.  It has been reported that all hospitals in Haiti have either collapsed or have been abandoned due to damage, and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, are in need of medical help, not to mention food, water and basic necessities.

There are dozens of organizations that are answering the call for help in Haiti. I would encourage everyone who can to support these organizations who are responding to this disaster.

You can make a donation to any one of various organizations that are now or will be providing earthquake relief in Haiti.  CNN has a pretty exhaustive list of organizations on their website. Update: The Miami Herald also has a very inclusive list as well.  I will mention a few more here that I picked up on Twitter as well:

• Compassion International: This organization known mainly for connecting children in poverty to sponsors has a disaster relief fund and are raising funds for Haiti.  You can text the word “disaster” to 90999 to give a $10 donation towards their relief efforts in Haiti.  The $10 will be billed to your cell phone account.  No credit card required.  You can also give online here.
• World Vision: Another organization providing opportunities to sponsor children in poverty is also working toward disaster relief in Haiti.  You can give online here.
• The Red Cross: Text the word “HAITI” to 90999 to give a $10 donation towards their relief efforts in Haiti.  The $10 will be billed to your cell phone account.  No credit card required.
• The Assemblies of God has created a disaster relief fund for Haiti as well. Information is here.
• WyClef Jean(formerly of The Fugees) has a foundation called Yele Haiti that is collecting donations toward relief efforts in Haiti.  You can donate at the website or by texting the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 via your cell phone.
• SafeWaterNexus is collecting funds and item donations for Haiti.  Information is here.
• Hollywood Unites for Haiti is a non-profit organized by Jimmy Jean-Louis (“the Haitian” from the NBC Series Heroes) that works with underprivileged youth in Haiti.  You can donate to their disaster relief efforts here.
• Update: One Day’s Wages is sending $5,000 to Haiti, and wants us to help match it.

Update: If you are concerned about where your money is going, check out Charity Navigator to see how the charity rates, and avoid getting scammed.

Above all else, please pray for the people of Haiti.

Updated 4:36 PM CST 1/13/10

Actually, I’m not that cool at all. I’ve always been very backwards when it comes to social interaction, especially when dealing with people I don’t know well.

There are situations that I can do well in, like meetings where I have a good working knowledge of the subject. I can verbalize much easier in that regard than I can in more interpersonal situations.

I find it much easier to communicate in writing. I love email, texts and twitter.  I generally despise actually talking on the phone. I find it difficult to gather my thoughts into words when speaking to other people personally, although I usually do well in a presentation mode (again where I control the subject matter).

In emails, or on social networks, I am much more outgoing (although I still carefully consider my messages that are sent directly to people). I find it much easier to hold a conversation with someone I don’t know well within the confines of email, twitter, or even over SMS.

My wife is the absolute opposite. She does extremely well in social situations, always seems at ease in conversation, and can make fast friends of just about anyone. She is on Facebook, but for the most part, does not get that involved in socializing online, except for the convenience of communicating short messages. She doesn’t Twitter, does not have any interest in getting on Twitter, and really does not understand my fascination with it.

So, blog readers, where do you feel most comfortable socializing? Are you more social online or off? Somewhere in the middle?

That was some blogging vacation (although some might say I haven’t been here that much anyway).  At least my absence only affected tens of people.

Over the break, I’ve really been thinking about the focus of my blogging and trying to target one major subject that would define my writing here.  Being a highly un-focused person (slightly attention-deficit disorder here, ooh shiny….), it’s hard to nail it down to just one.  In that, I’m breaking one of the cardinal rules of blogging, if you listen to the blogging “experts”. But since I read this post, I feel like one of my favorite bloggers, Anne Jackson, has given me permission to go against the grain a little.

Without further adieu, here is my blogging vision for the year ahead:

In general, I think about becoming a better person all the time.  Since I spend a lot of time in thought on that, that is probably what I will write about the most. Not that I will be telling anyone how to do that.  Most of my writing is extremely introspective, and out of that I tend to formulate ideas that could potentially apply to someone else.  What I would like most is to develop those thoughts into a conversation on my blog, so that everyone can benefit from the discussion.  Sure, this idea is not that original, but I think it most reflects who I am.

I have plans this year to get back to making music again, so as I go through that process, I have a feeling I will write about that.

I will continue to periodically write book reviews.

Since I have a lot of fun with technology and gadgets, I will occasionally write about that subject.

Here’s hoping that the blogging journey this year won’t be a lonely one.