When tragedy occurs

In the wake of recent earthquakes and tsunamis I have read comments by individuals who question why they occurred. There appears to be a need to place blame on these events. Oftentimes people view them as punishments sent by God for societal wrong doings. I find it hard to imagine that the Universe keeps tally of the "sins" of individuals and, when it reaches a tipping point, decides to punish an entire populace. This is inconsistent with a Universe that runs on love. These events are simply the result of natural laws that have been governing the planet for eons. The earth is constantly changing and we are the observers of those changes. And there are times when these major changes result in loss of life. We are also reminded of our interconnectedness with one another regardless of our address on the planet. In our pain we tend to draw together and reach out to total strangers for support. How do you perceive tragedy when it occurs in your experience?