November 2007

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”
*Genesis 1:31

Dear Members and Friends,

At this writing we have nearly concluded another mild hurricane season. The second in as many years, when the great prognosticators had presaged the arrival of numerous storms of unprecedented intensity. I guess they were wrong. Again.

Already I can hear some professional doomsayers declare that “sooner or later…”, but this is no different than those who proclaim that we are now closer to the end of the world than ever before. Naturally, they are correct. Even assuming the Apocalypse won’t be happening for another 15 billion years, today we are closer to that eventuality than we were yesterday. So there.

So in our anticipatory culture of worry, we predict all manner of impending disaster, poorly preparing ourselves for crises that actually do arise, and passing over the treasures and gifts that daily abound in our day to day existence. For instance, just last week in the front yard I came across a brilliant crimson leaf resting amidst the slender tines of the emerald green grass, awash in crystalline beads of glistening dew evaporating swiftly in the escalating warmth of the noonday sun. Normally, I probably crush such tiny gems underfoot as I rush onward to engagements of greater importance, but fortunately, on this all too rare occasion, I was caused to stop and wonder. The next day I came to find myself rather pleased that this Autumnal memento had not disappeared, though its ruddy countenance did seem faded just a tad. Good thing I noticed it in time.

Today the topic of Global Warming has comparatively rushed upon our horizon with ramifications of this passion abounding in every aspect of our society. Time was, not so long ago, when we were told that a new Ice Age was about to dawn and millions would die of hunger and cold if drastic steps were not taken in great haste. Hmmm.

Personally, I am only interested in hearing from those who can speak knowledgably about what is happening on earth with reference to the ice-caps that are also melting on Mars, not to mention the increase in temperatures on Jupiter and the object formerly known as a planet, Pluto. Truth be told, I must also confess that with reference to the asteroid that slammed into the Yucatan peninsula some 65 million years ago, I believe that while cataclysmic events should not be enjoyed, neither can their benefits be entirely denied. Alas, we are here. The dinosaurs are not.

I wonder about those who zoom around in personal jets and private limousines expelling copious clouds of CO2 from their lips about preserving the world around us, while they seem to have so little ability to teach us how to simply enjoy it. I find myself tenaciously clinging to glacial suspicion of those who speak as though people are to be the only saviors of a world that they also claim those same people are destroying – a world that people did not call into being. One can only imagine what it will be like if the ones who cannot predict the weather, attempt to manage the climate.

In the final analysis, I trust in God. Thus it is my belief that we are alive in a Universe with a sole Creator, and a single Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Apart from the sad notion of an impersonal diety, our faith tells the story of an involved and loving Father, intimately present in an eternal Son. So, it is my view that we must also be creatively and redemptively active in our world, confident that God is as well. Perhaps the first step we might take in trying to better cherish the earth is to slow down a bit, and start to notice it.

When it comes to proper care and preservation, this is a process that likely begins first with appreciation. This Thanksgiving Season, take some time to consider all that the Lord has made. It truly is beautiful, and also very, very good.

Godspeed,

From Reverend William J. Keane, Senior Minister of First Baptist Church of Branford