Suffering is as much a part of our lives as the air we breathe. We birth in suffering. There is greater mystery to it than we find in physical analysis we encounter in the compounds of elements in our lives. In the scientific context of life we have a fairly firm grasp on the benefits of this or that factor and the dangers, even when a good factor overly applied will become harmful, and a harmful factor in low measure may not make any difference to health in natural course. The whole story becomes a serious and complicated matter for civilization. At this writing the world population is facing impending tragedy, not from collision with space objects, not with atomic warfare, not with threats of pandemics (currently occupying the news in an Ebola outbreak originating in West Africa), but with the fouling of the air circling the globe. It is air contaminated partly from too much chemical poisoning from the excessive use of fossil fuels, generated by the most developed countries of the world in education, manufactures, standards of living, and mobility. Even the most optimistic writers about the matter leave readers hanging – minds cluttered with questions about solutions. The barriers to solutions rest largely in ourselves, unwilling to make the changes that might lead the world’s population out of a tragedy that some knowledgeable persons contend, is reaching an irreversible context. (Note: This Changes Everything; Capitalism vs. the Climate, Naomi Klein, reviewed in The New York Review 12/4/2014) Other factors relate to the human physical problem such as the depletion of resources, the decline in water needed for agriculture – and the negative issues are pressing global society – for the rich and poor, for the educated and the uneducated, for the good and the evil. We have turned blessing into cursing and that by overstepping ourselves in some societies and lacking of design and involvement in others. Paradox has turned to contradiction – the poor may have been more beneficial to earth than the rich, but the expectations of the more powerful, the more developed are too much for the world system to bear. Few appear to know how to persuade the haves to work with the have-nots, and amend the hard won benefits for the good of all. There is no doubt that much fault in the have-nots belongs in the leadership, the evasion, the manipulations of leaders in their own countries, and outsiders drawing upon the weakness that denies improvement. This story above becomes oppressive even without reciting other problems threatening the world’s population.
The fear of endings for persons in death or the society in collapse to death has occupied mankind to our knowledge from long past. Solutions were sought in division so persons divided from each other in land extensions, tribes and languages. The story of Noah is the story of starting over when matters become unacceptable. Frontiers lured people from problems in their homelands – as proved in the settlement of the western hemisphere. The frontiers have largely been occupied. Only space remains. We now look for some hope in gated communities, in systems of surveillance, in this or that method only to encounter one another in conflict on how to achieve hope, security and relief. We will either solve the threat or we will, in some way, as in the days of Noah, reduce the population in some massive loss, or shrink it to a remnant which will start over again with a nature manageable for recovery. God is interested in all this. This is his creation, and mankind is not managing as well as we are capable. God wants us to be free, perhaps because he is free, and he wants something of his own kingdom in the miniature that is the earth and its population. He addresses us in Christ, in Scripture, and offers the ministry of his Holy Spirit to aid us. We can find solutions, but they will not be found unless we become persons of good-will to all. The end of things is staved off when persons are dedicated to righteousness (right), and don’t waste it on riotous living. Earth life is transitional for mankind and will continue as long as the population is sufficiently given to improve their lives and live with concern for future generations. We were meant to be good stewards so to work, in facing problems in our persons and in society – in each generation. Suffering is one factor that informs us about where the problems are, and those to be addressed. Scripture warns us in advance. Earth and mankind are his creation, so prayer invites God to help. United in wisdom, sacrifice, leadership, meekness, love and care, we can find ways through the periodic transitions of what is to something better. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020