Dziękujemy!

To so many of you who have sent messages of sympathy or called to express your condolences at this time of tragedy in Poland, we thank you.  Your thoughts and prayers bring comfort during our period of national morning.

Several have asked if we knew any of the victims.  I had met a few of them at official functions and I did know personally Mr. M.

Płiżyński, Governor of the District of Gdansk who later became the Speaker of the House in the Polish Parliament. I met with him on several occasions as our building in Sopot was under construction.

I also recognize most of them from the media.  Many were politicians who are interviewed often on talk-shows and some were journalists who host these shows themselves. The loss is shocking when you realize these people you saw nightly on TV are gone.

Concerning the stability of the nation, Poland is a constitutional democracy and there has been a smooth and peaceful transfer of power to an interim president, the Speaker of the House, Bronisław Komorowski, who was sworn in within hours of the accident.  New elections are scheduled for the 20th of June.  The outcome will be very interesting.

The deceased president had lived in Sopot and maintained a home here. 

The current Prime-Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, is also from Sopot as well as one of the prominent victims, Anna Walentinowicz, a Solidarity veteran.  So in a real way, we are close to the tragedy.

There will be a week of mourning during which work, school and our Bible classes will continue as normal but with subdued activity. 

Concerts, parties and theaters have been closed and there is a somber spirit on the streets.  Most houses are flying Polish flags with black streamers attached.

We are reminded once again how fragile and precious life is and that everyone - whether large or small, important or common - faces the same end one day.  May we all live so that we will be ready when death comes.

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
Hebrews 9:27