“海嘯”的原文是日語“tsunami”。意思是“港口的波浪”。不少人原來就知道字典里有這麼一個字，但是不一定明白它的意思。我也認識“tsunami”這個字，但是不能確定怎麼發音。直等到2004年12月26日，“海嘯”這個字，在成千上萬人的身上，變成事實。
在幾個小時之內，全世界都曉得，有個海嘯影響了印度海兩岸的十一個國家。幾天以內，我們見到喪命者的數目超過二十一萬多人。數百萬人失去了親人、朋友、財產等。海嘯到底總共影響了多少人，我們無法知道。
聽到海嘯引發的損害有如此大，我們都非常震撼。大部分的人早晚會問，“為什麼會有這樣的事發生？”我們向不同的人問這個問題，因着他們的背景，我們得到了不同的答案。
地質學家回答我們，印度尼西亞，蘇門答臘島外海的地殼移動了；如此大型的地震引發了海嘯。這種解釋答覆了我們腦中的疑問，但它不滿足我們的心。
美國媒體訪問伊斯蘭教的阿訇，問他：“為什麼有此次海嘯？”伊斯蘭教阿訇告訴我們說，海嘯是阿拉引起的。每一個波浪的每一原子是阿拉指引的。不知道您對伊斯蘭教徒的解釋有何感想，但是它不帶給我任何安慰。
一位印度教的發言人說，大自然就是神。人類濫用大自然，所以得到了海嘯這個報應。連嬰孩和孩子們受此懲罰都是應該的。這個解釋使我難以接受。
2011年3月11日，世人再次經歷過這種噩夢——日本發生了大地震和海嘯。
身為基督徒的我面對這樣的問題，如“為什麼有海嘯？”和“為什麼那麼多人因此喪命？”時，我研讀《聖經》尋找答案。結果發現答案是多方面和多層次的。《聖經》告訴我們，地球、宇宙都被一位有愛之神所創造的。這位神繼續參與和保護他所創造的萬物。說神參與，意思並不是說神從微觀上掌握全世界上的每一件事情，但是神知道，神也允許所發生之事。
出於對我們的愛，神把自由意志給與人類。因此我們不是機器人。神允許我們彼此以惡相待，也允許我們互相施愛，救濟他人，就如海嘯之後許許多多的人慷慨解囊的把大筆錢送去災區幫助災民。出於愛，神創造氣象規律好讓雨水、雪、陽光等，使得五穀豐盛，維持生命。以他的智慧，神也讓氣象規律帶來旱災、洪水和地震。地震引發海嘯。出於愛，神創造了火，好讓我們煮飯取暖，但是同樣的火會毀滅我們的房子，甚至於奪取性命。
出於愛，神藉着耶穌基督向人類張顯自己。但是，世人不理解耶穌，相反地把他釘上十字架。今天，我們詢問神，“為什麼有海嘯？”，“為什麼那麼多人喪命？”時，神回答我們說，“我愛您。我完全了解你心裡的悲痛。我也曾經面對過疼痛和死亡。連我都沒有避免生老病死”。也許這不是我們想要得到的全部答案，但是它會滿足我們的心。
地質學家解釋地球的短層線和地殼，但是《聖經》再三的告訴我們，耶穌站在我們面前，張開雙臂向我們說，“來吧！所有勞苦，背負重擔的人都到我這裡來，我要使你們得安息”（馬太福音11:28 現代中文譯本）。
The word “tsunami” is Japanese and means “harbor wave.” Some people knew the word, but rarely used it; I knew the word but was not sure how to pronounce it! All that changed, however, with one newscast on December 26, 2004, when “tsunami” became reality for hundreds of thousands of people.
Within a few hours the world knew that a tsunami had affected at least eleven nations and within several days we saw the number of those who had lost their lives climb to over 210,000. Hundreds of thousands more lost relatives, friends or property. The number of people whose lives were affected in one way or another by the tsunami will never be known.
When we first heard the extent of damage caused by the tsunami, many of us reacted with shock. Most people at one time or another simply asked “Why did this happen?” and we were given different answers, based on the background of the person who was answering.
Geologists told us that the earth’s crust moved below the ocean off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and that the huge earthquake caused the tsunami. That answer spoke to our brains but not to our hearts.
A Muslim Imam told us that Allah caused the tragedy. Every atom in every wave was guided by Allah, he said. I don’t know about you, but I found no comfort in that statement.
A Hindu spokesperson said that Nature is God and that mankind had abused Nature and so mankind earned the punishment that was dispensed through the tsunami. Even babies and children earned their punishment, we were told. This explanation made me nauseous.
The world relived the tsunami nightmare again on March 11, 2011, when a huge earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.
As a Christian, I turn to the Bible for answers to questions such as, “Why the tsunami?” and “Why the deaths?” and I find multi-layered and multi-faceted answers. In the Bible I find that the earth, the universe and all there is was created by a loving God who is involved in his creation. This involvement does not mean that God micro-manages everything that happens, although he both knows and allows everything that happens.
In love, God gave mankind freedom of will, and so we are not robots. God allows people to act viciously toward each other, if they so choose, or to extend love and aid to others, such as we see in the millions of dollars sent to aid the victims of the tsunami. In love, God created weather patterns that bring rain and snow and sunshine so that food can be grown and life sustained. In God’s wisdom, those same weather patterns sometimes bring droughts or floods or earthquakes. And earthquakes produce tsunamis. In love, God created fire so that our food can be cooked and made appetizing, and our homes can be warmed in winter, but that same fire can burn our houses down and cause loss of life.
In love, God revealed himself to mankind through Jesus Christ; Jesus however was misunderstood and finally was crucified. Today, when we ask God, “Why the tsunami and why the deaths?” God answers back and says, “I love you and I understand your grief. I too suffered pain and death. Even I was not prevented from facing tragedy.” Not the total answer we seek, perhaps, but one that speaks to our hearts.
The geologist explains about fault lines and earth plates, but the Bible assures us that Jesus stands with outstretched arms and says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” [Matthew 11:28].
【天災】二：生還者的安慰——神的懷抱
Natural Disasters (2): Comfort for Survivors: God’s Embrace
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short
World Christian Broadcasting