Natural disasters around Christmas enhance the tragedy for those who do not experience it. We ask, “how awful it must be and so close to Christmas too.” We send help out of a sense of pity. It is easy to mistake pity for compassion. The hand-out looks the same. Pity for the plight of others is temporary. Compassion lasts much longer. And yet, we fail to realize the need for mutuality the disasters should prompt in us. Climate change has been denied, argued about, and ridiculed. It is happening. We watch the Spring growth begin earlier. The weather has been so unseasonably warm lately that the tulips I planted in September are breaking their way out of the ground. Extreme weather events occur more often. The resulting deaths only move us for a brief time.
Private Disasters
Our problem is our sense of privacy. It contributes to the voyeurism that is the media coverage of terrible events. I watched a Climate disaster 5 years ago. 14 people died. Homes were lost. A forest fire in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park combined with drought and high winds spilled over to the city of Gatlinburg. “Oh, how horrible. Such a shame. Did you see that video? And such a pity it happened just after Thanksgiving too.”
Samaritan’s Purse arrived. The Red Cross and Salvation Army came too. Money and supplies were sent. Blessed relief from all of these organizations and individuals helped many. The poorest never got their homes back. The owners of the cheaper hotels took the insurance money and did not build back. Dolly Parton provided relief to out of work people. Her example spoke volumes.
We are glad to see good things happen after tragedies. Few people are ever motivated to make certain the disaster does not happen. The freakish weather remains. And nothing has been done to combat Climate Change beyond promises and updates to coastal infrastructure. The disasters are private for the long term.
Stepping Forward
I spoke with my congressman a few months back about the infrastructure bill especially as it could combat Climate Change. He voted against it. It was the same stuff. “We need to let the market provide the solutions. The real polluters are Russia and China…” But there was a press release about the conversation. So, it is on the record. I will not forget it.
The writer of Hebrews says something very important before the book closes. “Let mutual love continue.”(13:1) I know it is not as beautifully stated as the “Love Chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13. But it is easier to memorize and harder to apply. Mutual Love is meant to continue. Hebrews speaks directly to people who are trying to get along in the world. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (13:2) Uses the word “strangers” in a well strange way. Messengers of God are not outsiders.
We can err thinking Paul’s use of the word agape (love, charity, or compassion) means some people are outsiders. Hebrews indicates there are no outsiders. Ananias approached Saul the persecutor of the Way and called him “brother.” Ananias was visiting someone who was ill in body and soul and treated him like a child of God. This act and these teachings should inform a Christian response of the Climate Crisis.
Avoiding Disasters
Cain asks, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” We rightly debate his question. Cain asks if he is Abel the shepherd’s shepherd. God’s next statement is “What have you done?” Does Cain realize the magnitude of his action? He only understands how the results affect him.
Cain did not need to be his brother’s keeper. He should have been his brother’s brother. Prior to Judas Iscariot, there was no more pitiable figure than Cain. The writer of Hebrews knows this failure to love mutually is the great tragedy.
Claiming Russia and China are worse at polluting the world, it similar to the stupidity of the nuclear arms race in the cold war. What does it matter if your enemy can destroy the world more times than you can? The world can only be destroyed once. It is bizarre to have to say it out loud.
Mutuality as The Goal
Mutuality is the virtue of love acted upon together. Compassion is love acted upon when another either cannot or does not act. The climate crisis requires action of either type. Curbing the destruction of the gifts of life is a priority for humanity.
Yes. We all run the risk of being hypocritical on this topic. Knowing to do good is at least a half-step to doing good. Should we help starving children? Yes. Should we help keep children from going hungry to begin with? Again, yes. This principle applies to our approach to climate disasters. It is close enough to Christmas for us to start demanding real action from the powers that govern us. Advent and Christmas mark the beginning of preaching the gospel. It is time to declare jubilee for all the inhabitants of the earth.
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