Saturday, August 25, 2007

Expected Disasters of the Ordinary Kind

(Updated 8-26-07 at the bottom of this post)

Don’t call these “acts of God” because God is not the One who is destroying our Earth mother.

Don’t call these “natural disasters.” Because how can anything of a destructive, catastrophic nature be looked upon as something to be expected and accepted . . . as something that is normal and ordinary?

That is, unless, we as human beings, are fundamentally stupid. That is unless we, as human beings, are merely apathetic cells that are combining in cancerous mass and killing our most vital living organ - the very much alive planet Earth - that generously and abundantly sustains our human lives, allowing us to experience the life God gave us. But, I know in my heart we are better than this. I know we can do better than this.

So, the furies of storms and tornadoes that created a path of destruction in parts of Michigan last night and the forest fires that raged in Southern Greece ending 44 human lives are all something of our doing. We are responsible for the illness of our fading planet.

I wrote about prayers of healing in my previous post . . . and I feel it necessary we come together in a collective effort and pray for the healing of our planet while actively doing what we can to stop and reverse the damage we have already done. We need vigilance, diligence and impeccability at this most critical and final hour . . . these which could be her last breaths.

The AP photo above was taken by Petros Giannakouris of an iconostasis in the Greek village of Kato Samika, about 200 miles south of Athens. An iconostasis is a small church-like building - ‘icon’ means holy image or symbol, and ‘stasis’ means a stop – as place to stop and say a prayer, to reflect, to pause on the busy path of daily life and show gratitude to God. (The walkways throughout Greece have thousands of iconostasis - each is an oasis of hope)

Please hold the healing of our living planet Earth
in your hearts and prayers


Also in the news today it was revealed that Mother Theresa struggled with her faith. Why is that so shocking? How does that come as such a surprise?

Mother Theresa was human like the rest of us. If she never had doubt, if she never felt the pains of despair and hopeless, if she lived a life without personal turmoil and strife . . . she would have not lived an honest life. She would not have been real. The fact that she had doubt - great doubt at times - and yet never gave up or gave in is the true testament to what faith, perseverance, selflessness and love can conquer.





8-26-07 UPDATE ON FIRES IN GREECE: The fires, which are now ravaging half of the country for the past three days, have ended 51 human lives and are quickly spreading - consuming
more than a mile in only three minutes - due, especially, to the strong August winds. The fires are racing toward the village of Ancient Olympia and the 2,500 year old Temple Of Apollo in Epikourios. There are hundreds of fires - all believed to be intentionally set (some people have already been detained regarding their involvement). This is a catastrophe of biblical proportions threatening to destroy most of present day Greece and her people . . . while also threatening to leave the preserved ruins of antiquity in a charred state of ruin beyond recognition.
Among the burned remains of bodies found in cars, along roads and in fields was a mother hugging her four children.
This is a news story. But for me it is also a personal story. Having lived in Greece and having friends and family living in Greece, and having walked the land that is being swallowed up by flames . . . it is a very personal story for me.

7 comments:

Erik Donald France said...

The only people who don't have doubt are souless ghouls like Cheney and Bush, I suspect.

We need to hold on to drinkable water, that's for sure. The accelerated ravaging of Mother Earth is scary. There may just be too many of us at this point, still operating as if we're living a million years ago.

Pythia3 said...

Thanks Erik . . . you are so right, we are operating as if we are living a million years ago - whether in spirit or reality. It is very scary.
I can't nor do I want to believe that we, as a people, are either so ignorant or, worse, detached from the consequences of our behavior and actions.
:)

Jon said...

What you want to believe and the truth that is to be believed are two different things. I want to believe that being a nice guy is enough to get me into heaven...is it?
But then doubt is the primordial soup of faith, isn't it?

As to the nature of human kind;
I tell trainees that dealing daily with the public will change their view of humanity. If they think that people are generally evil and stupid and bad, they will find that they are wrong. If they think that people are kind and smart and good, they will find that they are wrong.

But we will, and probably have already, destroyed the earth. But it doesn't matter. In a hundred thousand years, even the plutonium we make will have mostly half-lifed itself away. The world will be a much quieter place. And that ain't all bad.

Michelle's Spell said...

Hey Lindy,

Excellent points here! As far as struggling with faith, I was relieved to hear about the letters. I think faith always requires a bit of a struggle and that is its nature.

Pythia3 said...

Jon, I know what you mean about working with the public - especially in the capacity that you do it in. You must see and hear things that blow preconceived notions away.
My brother-in-law was a Detroit Firefighter and he saw the worst of 'us' and sometimes the best of "us."
Thanks for stopping by - hooray! It's a sunny Sunday :)

Pythia3 said...

Michelle, I think you and I are a lot alike in the religious aspect. We want to walk on water by means of our faith alone, and yet we would get a few steps in and drown in our doubt, even though we were already a few steps in.
I am always questioning myself, doubting, wondering if I am making it all up. We do have very imaginative minds. Then, I realize I am being blasphemous in thinking my mind could really be that great at conjuring up such things.
So, I go round and round, but in the end, faith wins.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
PS I'll NEVER forget your baptism - a spiritual occasion indeed (and we share the same Patron Saint) and God love those shoes . . . I know he did!

Entertainer said...

good writing pythia...