I remember thinking at the time that natural disasters are a memo from Mother Nature reminding us we ain't all that powerful after all. Yep, we have done a number on the planet with Global warming. We have people of dubious intelligence and integrity around the globe that have their finger on a red button that could blow us all to smithereens. We often worry about humans destroying the planet.

But we only had to watch the news from California last week to be reminded how puny we really are. One sobering photo showed a line of tiny firemen silhouettes against a raging wall of flames. Your kindergarten kids have brought home paper cutouts that looked similar. Our protectors, so tiny and fragile against a raging mountain of fire.

Each of us greets our disasters differently. One of my aunties cheerfully regaled a group of ladies several years ago with her Hurricane Iniki stories. She said it was the best thing to happen to the neighborhood. Her tiny 4'8" frame shook as she giggled and laughed about all the people who were forced to actually talk with each other and be nice. The neighborhood pulled together and everyone hauled out their hibachi's to have a week long barbecue with newly "unfrozen food."

Her best story was the blessing of losing her garage and part of her house. Seems her husband was an incurable packrat. She had been nagging him for years to clean out the garage so they could use it for a car. Now, she said, "Da buggah is clean as a whistle. Cuz, No Moah! Da garage stay gone! Now, we goin' build a new one and I keepin' da key so he cannot pack it full again!"

I loved her story because it is absolute proof that all of life is Attitude.

I thought of her years later when I gave a seminar to a client with employees on all the islands. One man in the group had a reputation for being a grump. I pulled the managers aside and asked what was up, and could I help? They told me he used to be very cheerful and mellow. But he had lost part of his house and garage and one of his beloved pets in Iniki. Even though it had been almost 10 years, he hadn't lost the bitterness. He couldn't resolve the question, "Why Me?"

Why me indeed… Why anything? Why bother trying to figure it out? The people in California whose houses were spared now suffer from the Why Me's. They are simultaneously relieved and guilty. Tornado victims and survivors tell the same story. A twister snakes through a town and takes out houses like a chess game. One pawn here, a knight there. And houses left standing in the midst of the devastation give no concrete clues why.

In Hawaii they say, "when God gives you lemons, make lemon chicken." Maybe that is the only answer. Spending too much time on "Why?" keeps you from focusing on the real question, "Now What?" Now what do we do to support the man who still grieves for his lost home and his lost pet? Now how do we support the people of California, who weeks ago felt comfort in their beautiful homes, now reduced to ashes and pylons. What do we say to the children who wonder about Christmas in the ashes? How do we help others have a Thanksgiving in the midst of a thankless situation?

Disasters. A memo about mortality. A reminder that we are tiny specks in the grand scheme of things. And an opportunity. I watched as both Hurricane Iwa in 1983 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992 brought communities together. Perhaps in the midst of disaster we drop all pretense that we are different or that some people are better than others because of financial or social situations.

"There, but for the grace of God, go I…" reverberates in our heads.

We only need look at the Scripps ranch story. Some of the wealthiest Californians lived there. They had access to finery and enough money to do the "right things" to keep their properties safe. But Mother Nature had another plan. While some of this was arson, a great deal of it was the Santa Ana winds. Some say it was nature's clean up project for all the dead and dying trees that had been attacked by bug infestations. It didn't really matter what your bank account was, what your financial status was, what your social status was. If you were in the path of the "clean up operation," you were not safe.

And Now. Now what matters is that there are human beings and other living creatures in need. Now there are people who are hungry, who are in pain, who need your support, thoughts, and prayers. In a disaster, who are you? What do you choose? Ignore it if it isn't you? Hope if you don't think about it, it won't happen to you? Or do you step up to the plate? What do you do now?

First, be grateful that the death toll is low considering the devastation. Then, be thankful for your loved ones who survived. Like my auntie, look at your own life - what you have instead of what you don't have. Realize that your personal disasters can be mended, you can heal, and, as my Dad always said, "This Too, Shall Pass." Place your energy, time and thoughts on what is truly valuable: the support of friends, the love of family, the continuing opportunities to learn the lessons and share who you are with a world that needs you. And move forward.

Then, give. Give to the Red Cross, to your church's disaster fund, to United Way, to the hospitals, to any legitimate fund that will get the most help to the victims. If you are looking for a way to help, one of my clients is a consortium of people who are on the front lines in every disaster. DKI - Disaster Kleenup International. Check out their website: www.disasterkleenup.com. DKI is a cooperative business network of restoration contractors, some of the finest human beings I have ever met. They have helped millions of people recover from tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and fires.

Do Something. Be Present. Taking action is the price of the ticket for being a part of the human race. And when you take action we all win: life just works better for us all.

Beth