First Helene. Then Milton. Massive hurricanes inflicting death and destruction on innocent people.
Once upon a time, God said to Abraham, I’m going to utterly destroy the wicked and vile cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And all who live therein!
God was heartless.
Abraham was not.
Abraham said to God: I’m shocked, not to mention disappointed. Shouldn’t the Judge of the whole earth do what’s right?
What do you mean by “right”? God replied.
Well, what if there are fifty innocent people there? Will you still obliterate those entire cities?
I hadn’t thought of that. But, no, for the sake of the fifty, I will not obliterate those cities.
What about forty?
For the sake of the forty, I will not obliterate those cities
Thirty?
Same.
Twenty?
Same.
Ten?
Oh, for god’s sake will you STOP? You’re driving me crazy! Okay, okay. For the sake of THE TEN, I will not obliterate those cities.
It’s a mythic tale. But statistically speaking there had to be at least ten innocent people in those cities. Still God rained sulfur and fire down on the cities and utterly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18–19)
Or maybe it was a Category 5 hurricane.
Nature is heartless.
Once upon a time, a hurricane struck a city. Water filled the streets. A jeep came by to rescue a stranded man. No, thanks. I have faith. God will save me.
The waters rose to the second floor. A boat came by. No, thanks. I have faith. God will save me.
The water rose to the roof. A helicopter lowered a rope ladder. No, thanks. God will save me.
The man drowned. At the pearly gates he wailed: I had faith you would save me and you didn’t!
God replied: I sent a jeep, a boat, and a helicopter. What else could I have done?
Some people count on God to save them. I count on people to figure out how to protect, preserve, and save ourselves, the earth, and all that dwell therein.
Yes, nature is heartless. And we can be heartless too. We are, after all, part of nature. But we can also be incredibly compassionate.
And smart.
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See Paula’s photo (Aialik Glacier) on home page. Scroll down to “visual explorations.”
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