by Maria Hase, social action coordinator
I recently revisited “Why” (author unknown, submitted by Sister Mary Rose McGeady, Covenant House) on p. 40 in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, and Nancy Mitchell. In “Why,” it talks of a shivering, hungry, young girl seen by the piece’s author, and the author’s subsequent anger at God. It dawned on me that “Why” could be adapted to our climate justice and criminal justice focus issues. An adaptation would go something like this….
Why?
On the news I saw horrific flooding, out of control wildfires, and historic drought. In the news I read about the almost all white jury selected in Georgia for the trial of Anmaud Arbery, and I read “Climate change is biased, EPA says.” I became angry and said to God: “Why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it?” For awhile God said nothing. That night God replied, quite suddenly: “I certainly did something about it. I made you.”
Then I read about a poem by Yrsa Daley-Ward for our world leaders at the UN Summit. It dawned on me that her poem speaks to you and me, as well….
“Nothing will be saved without you. It is important to begin with the fact. This is your invitation to lead with light.” – Yrsa Daley-Ward
The time is now. As Mahatma Ghandi said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man (woman) changes his (her) own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him (her). This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”
Not sure where to start?
- Check out this month’s Social Action Newsletter, https://www.smore.com/49q3b
- Listen to God’s leading. Listen to your gut. You know. You do. God is calling you.
- If God brings you to it, God will carry you through it and help you do it.
