When your world suddenly falls apart or if you are a Ukrainian whose neighborhood has just been blown up, you are suddenly faced with having to make a decision which you are not equipped to make. As one Ukrainian woman said on the news, she did not know whether to stay or to flee. A couple of months ago, those living in Boulder had only moments to decide to leave their homes, ahead of devastating fires that were sweeping through the area.
We all make decisions continually, all day, everyday. We make them automatically, such as getting out of bed each morning and going to work or to school. Some decisions may require more thought, like what will we eat for breakfast? Should we begin the laundry first, or take out the trash? Should we wear the red dress, or the black one? Sometimes our decisions are major ones, such as buying a house or a car. We may lie awake at night wrestling with pros and cons of one decision versus another. The decision to marry or to divorce may happen quickly even if it has been contemplated for a long time. Sometimes we make snap decisions and sometimes, later regret them. Doctors working in emergency situations must learn to make a decision rapidly, with little or no time to consider if it is the right one.
People caught in tsunamis, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes have only moments to gather loved ones and flee – or take cover. Those facing fires have only seconds. The people who are bombed have no time at all and if they survive, there is no time to grieve. They must look for loved ones who may also still be alive; or flee for their own safety and maybe the safety of their children (born or unborn) leaving their dead behind. If their home has been destroyed, staying may not be in their best interest. They may no longer have potable water or food, heat, or a means of communication. If they leave, where will they go? Millions of Ukrainians have now fled or been displaced from their homes, because one man made the decision to destroy those in his neighboring country. One man’s decision can be far reaching. One man can, with the touch of a button, set off a nuclear bomb or release deadly chemicals from his warfare arsenal. One human being can destroy most of the life on this planet. It is only our collective prayers that can stop him.
