(Warsaw,
November 2013)
When
will we choose to live more simply?
This
week – even as the world mourns the tragic loss of life in the
unprecedented Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippine Islands – political
leaders have converged on Warsaw, Poland, in yet another anticipated
meeting on climate change. Concerned citizens throughout the world
are hoping and praying for prompt and practical results.
The
conference follows on the heels of an important report by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warns of the
urgency of immediately addressing the alarming escalation of climate
change in order to avoid catastrophic consequences.
Scientists
talk of “tipping points” and “abrupt climate change.”
Political leaders talk of the “challenges” that lie ahead.
Scripture speaks of human crisis and God’s forgiving grace. All
three make it clear that the time will come when we must face
consequences; the time will come when it is simply too late.
At
first glance, it may appear strange for the leader of a religious
institution concerned with “sacred” values to be so profoundly
involved in “worldly” issues. After all, what does preserving the
planet have to do with saving the soul? It is commonly assumed that
global climate change and the exploitation of our nature’s
resources are matters that primarily concern politicians, scientists
and technocrats. At best, perhaps they are considered the
preoccupation of interest groups, naturalists or activists.
Nevertheless,
there are no two ways of looking at either the world or God. There is
no distinction between concern for human welfare and concern for
ecological preservation. The way we relate to nature as creation
directly reflects the way we believe in God as Creator of all things.
The sensitivity with which we handle the natural environment clearly
mirrors the sacredness that we reserve for the divine.
Moreover,
scientists estimate that those most hurt by global warming in the
years to come, are those who can least afford it. According to the
Gospel of St. Matthew, the questions that will be asked of us all at
the final moment of accountability will not be about our religious
observance but on whether we fed the hungry, gave drink to the
thirsty, clothed the naked, comforted the sick, and cared for
captives.
Our
reckless consumption of the earth’s resources – energy, water,
and forests – threatens us with irreversible climate change.
Burning more fuel than we need in an overpopulated city, we may
contribute to droughts or floods thousands of miles away.
To
restore the planet we need a spiritual worldview, which brings
frugality and simplicity, humility and respect. We must constantly be
aware of the impact of our actions on all of creation. We must direct
our focus away from what we want to what the planet needs. We must
choose to care for creation; otherwise, we do not really care about
anything at all.
In
our efforts, to contain global warming, we are ultimately admitting
just how prepared we are to sacrifice some of our selfish and greedy
lifestyles. When will we learn to say: “Enough!”? When will we
understand how important it is to leave as light a footprint as
possible on this planet for the sake of future generations?
After
all, we are all in this together. Our planet unites us in a unique
way. While we may differ in our conception of the origins or purpose
of our world, and while we may disagree on social or political
ideology, surely we can all agree on our responsibility and
obligation to protect its natural resources – which are neither
limitless nor negotiable – for future generations.
It
is not too late to respond – as a people and as a planet. We could
steer the earth toward our children’s future. Yet we can no longer
afford to wait; we can no longer afford to be idle. The world has
clearly expressed its opinion; our political leaders must accordingly
act with urgency. Deadlines can no longer be postponed; indecision
and inaction are not options. We have a choice to make. The time to
choose is now.
We
remain optimistic about the results at Warsaw; quite simply because
we are optimistic about humanity’s potential. Let us work together;
let us offer the earth an opportunity to heal and continue to nurture
us.
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