MARCH 14 — March 11 marked the third anniversary of the Japan Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster. On this day three years ago, tens of thousands of lives were obliterated in minutes in Japan by the massive tsunami triggered by the quake. Hair-raising scenes of vehicles rolled away by the sweeping currents still haunt many of us today.

Back then many countries near and far offered their prayers or held out their hands for the Japanese victims, including China which had been locked in deep anguish over past iniquities of the Japanese occupiers, taking on the mission to help as ill-feeling and prejudices were momentarily brushed aside.

That was a glorious manifestation of spontaneous human compassion and empathy in the face of disaster. Because of empathy, we are able to think and feel what another individual does. And because of compassion, we are able to pray for other people with the hope they can sail past the crisis safely.

Malaysia Airlines MH370 vanished from the radar screen in an instant, like a bubble bursting. Nothing has so far been detected as we enter Day 5.

Sitting on the plane were a father whose daughter has faithfully yearned for his return, the co-pilot whose fiancée is still waiting for him, a husband who is the much treasured member of his family, young men pursuing their dreams in a foreign land, family members looking forward to a reunion gathering in their Beijing homes, talented artists returning from an art exhibition in Kuala Lumpur...

239 souls, like kites with broken strings, stray into nowhere, tearing apart the hearts of billions of earthlings.

People are shocked, devastated, praying hard for a miracle to happen. But with the minutes and days and hours flashing past us, the “miracle” appears to be more and more remote.

Malaysia, China, Vietnam, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore among a dozen of countries, have dispatched their military aircraft, vessels and rescue boats for the presumed location of the disappearing plane, at the same time families of many passengers have braced themselves for the worst.

The impact of a catastrophe, which could be an air disaster, a massive earthquake, tsunami or terror attack, is global. After news of the airliner gone missing was beamed across the globe, people of different ethnic backgrounds and faiths offered their heartiest prayers from every corner of the world for the safe return of those onboard the doomed aircraft. This indeed highlights the selfless human spirit to hold out a hand to help despite our differences.

Even as we used to be divided over racial and religious issues in this country, people of different races and religions still came together to perform solat hajat for the safety of air crew and passengers.

While disasters are inhuman, they have at least provided us an opportunity to think from a different perspective, and contemplate over the meanings of life.

Life could be very inconstant, but each time after a disaster has struck, we have picked up a little more courage and perseverance, although we are in no position to reverse our inconstant destinies.

Since life is such an inconstant thing, perhaps we Malaysians should learn to cast aside all our differences and prejudices to treat everyone around us with a more accommodating heart, and make the country a better place for all, as we slowly recover from the trauma of this tragedy.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.