Ready to Fight: We Will Do Whatever It Takes

"Now this?" Tom stood alone on the empty beach. He was devastated and on the verge of tears. “I am too young to go through this much tragedy alone," he told himself. "Most people never will never experience tragedy like this in their entire lifetime."

"Why me, God!" he yelled. "I am ready to fight you on this! First, you took my father in an earthquake and now, my mother and all of my brothers and sisters in a hurricane. What next?"

Tom's whole family was gone, along with all of their hopes and dreams for the future. So were many of his friends and neighbors. 

"Fight for life," the pounding waves seemed to echo and re-echo. "But, I don't even want to live," Tom yelled back.

"To live or not to live; it is your choice," the waves seemed to reply.  

Tom soon became tired of arguing with God. He headed back to what was left of his village knowing that everyone was in the same plight, having lost loved ones and most of what they owned. But, he was totally unprepared for what came next.

"The entire population of this village, perhaps even this whole island, will be wiped out by cholera unless immediate action is taken," a health care worker was advising the terrified villagers.

"Fight for life?" went through Tom's mind, again, but now he began to understand the seriousness of the words that had come to him earlier. He also knew what he had to do.

"No more time for self-pity; it's time for action," he heard himself saying aloud, not knowing where his sudden strength had come from. "I need your help, if we are to prevent this epidemic. What we do right now, will determine who lives and who dies."

One by one, dozens of total strangers, as well as many of those who he knew including some who had lost loved ones, came forward and offered their assistance.

"Fight for life, God? I am ready to fight. We all are. We will do whatever it takes. Please show us what to do."