Written by Father Michael
I awakened this morning with news of the latest storm. Trees down, flooding, power outages all a repeat of the stories of the week before. Those who went without electricity for days and those endured flooded basements and homes, and lost of trees may have a difficult seeing the bright side of disaster.
The May issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC cover story was Mount St. Helens, New Life in the Blast Zone. Thirty years after it blew its top abundant life in some areas is reappearing. Trout in a formerly dead lake are abundant and larger than ever. What once were seen as miracles are everyday occurrences on the Pumice Plain and Spirit Lake around the humbled mountain.
The devastation of the oil spill in the gulf that gushes news of disaster each day to us reminds me of the killing of our own Great Lakes and the hope of their rebirth. As a kid growing up in Hammond in the 50’s I remember the closing of Hammond Beach and the defiant refusal of Whiting to see the oil footprints everyone had as they exit the waters. Mom would pack us in the car and bravely take a carload of kids to 63rd Street/ Jackson Park Beach in Chicago looking for clean water, so our footprints would be in the sand only and not oily black. Fishing in the lakes is not back to what it was but there is hope.
Andrew Greeley has written many blessings that speak of hope and I am reminded of one because it always sends me soaring.
May your hope be as strong as a mountain wall
And as subtle as the early morning mists
May you believe that God’s power conquers all
And may his love through trouble and pain persists.
May your hope soar like a multicolored bird
And shine brighter that the blinding desert sun
Because you know your prayers will be heard
And Jesus waits when the day is done. (from The Irish)
When we remember that this world is God’s creation it is easier to believe that “God’s power conquers all”. This world’s ability to renew itself is God’s gift. This same ability God gives us daily in His sacraments. Each day is new to us and to God. The National Geographic article talked about the miracles of rebirth that were witnessed daily and now after thirty years are barely noticed. That happens only too often in our own lives.
In our pain and trouble we first cannot see any relief. When it finally comes we think it a miracle. Then it becomes expected and not noticed. With God we have a non-ending flow of grace and love that constantly is available to renew ourselves. We need to take advantage of that gift daily so we can “soar like a multicolored bird”. Such Hope is what belief in God means and gives. Alone we can do nothing but with God’s help we can do marvelous deeds. Each day God renews the face of the earth.