Predicting is not Preparing

Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of the human inclination to predict but not prepare.  Think of the story of Noah’s ark. Noah knew a flood was coming. God gave instructions about what to do and Noah got to work.  When people asked why he was building a giant boat in the middle of an arid plain, he told them.  They laughed. What flood? They looked up at the sky, saw no clouds, and moved on with their day.

In the Gospel, Jesus repeatedly says, keep watch, stay awake, you don’t know the day or the hour. The thief will come, the son of man will come, the greatest crisis of your life will come. Jesus wants us to prepare in advance so we are ready. If you are in a posture of stability before the strong wind hits you, you don’t fall. The most complete preparation for crisis is deep faith. Daily trusting, listening and practicing a loving life inside God. That stabilizing stance is foundational all the time. But other practicalities need to be considered.

Climate change warnings have been coming for a long time.  Now the evidence is stark and steady. As Alex Steffan says, we are unprepared for what has already happened.  So, my friend, at this late hour, are you prepared?

Here are some questions for you:

What is the greatest climate risk in my area? If you don’t know, look here. 
What resources do I rely on right now to mitigate that risk for myself and others?
If that resource becomes unavailable to me, what can I do next?
How can I care for myself and others at that point?

The time to think about these questions is now.
 
As Christians, we have an advantage. We know how to share.  We offer shelter from cold and heat. We love and support each other.  In the face of extreme weather, we prepare so we can do more effectively.  One example: we could adapt our church’s solar array to charge a battery. Then we could air condition or heat our building if the grid breaks down.

There are reliable voices to help us with this conversation. Alex Steffan is a national leader thinking about the Climate Crisis and preparing for coming disasters.  He has been featured on NPR, New York Times, Mother Jones, 60 Minutes. He brings a common-sense perspective about what the future will look like. He even offers an online course called “Ruggedization” which helps people prepare within their context.  Here is a link to his most recent (free) substack article: LINK

Since at least the days of Noah, disasters have loomed on the horizon and humans have looked away.  It may be that we as a species are on the edge of extinction but its just as possible that we are at the start of a change that will bring humans and earth to a place of greater wholeness.  This crisis could go many ways. It’s up to us to hold onto Jesus’ vision of Beloved Community and prepare for the future in such a way that our faith and actions speak to that hope.

--Pastor Rebecca

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