Curious Kate: Truthseeker Extraordinare

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then takes steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”  ~John Paul II

CK: Good morning, Papa ❤

Papa: Good morning, Honey Child ❤

CK: Honey Child? What does that mean?

Papa: You are all-natural, with no preservatives, like honey. Not an artificial bone in your body. 🙂

CK:  Aww, that is so “sweet.” 😊

But, speaking of “natural”, nature seems to be out of control these days—hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, famine, tsunamis, tornadoes, mudslides, snowstorms, heat waves, ice storms, black ice, avalanches, chill factors not to mention the flooding issue of late. One hundred-year floods coming every other year. We are just getting pounded! Records are being broken all over, and there are even whole towns being wiped off the map. Millions of people are being affected…humanitarian crises, nature-made and man-made, all over the planet.  Even cruise ships are having a hard time staying afloat. EEEK!

And if that is not bad enough, Melissa, one of the kids in my religion class, was telling us that her friend Molly said we are in “end times.” She was “freaking out” about it. And now that I think about it, I heard a couple of women in the checkout line at the grocery talking about the same doom and gloom. I mean, it does kind of make sense with what seems like evil having its way these days. Are we really in “end times?”

Papa: The truth is “end times” are up to humankind. When humankind chooses its own wisdom and desires over my own, there are always negative consequences, not created by me, but by humankind itself. It certainly is not the peaceful and loving world that I had hoped for.  Yet, I will never give up trying to heal my broken world unless my world gives up on itself.

CK:  Unless your world gives up on itself? What does that mean? Is there some kind of connection between humankind’s behavior and these “natural” disasters? Because if that is the case, that would also mean humankind has the power to change our course, as well, right?

Papa: One question at a time, Sweet One.❤ First of all, the world “giving up on itself” happens when humankind refuses to take responsibility for the choices it makes.  The “law” of cause and effect will always remain. And all of this has to do with the interconnectedness of creation.

CK:  Interconnectedness is the law by which everything in creation affects everything else. Because all that is, is made up of the same kinds of molecules, only in different proportions kind of thing?

Papa: Exactly, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s start at the beginning. What do you know about the “creation story” that can be applied to the current situation?

CK: Well, “In the beginning,” you created all that is, including humankind, and you said, “It was good.” In fact, everything was perfect.  Although that didn’t last very long. Living in paradise and not needing a clothing allowance wasn’t good enough for our “founding” father and mother. They took the big bite and “all hell broke loose.”

Papa: Quite literally.

CK:  That serpent was so cunning that they didn’t even know what hit them. And you know what, Papa? That temptation to be our own god is alive and well today. That “original sin” isn’t so original anymore. It just seems to get repeated over and over. Plus there are those who say since we have free will, we should be able to choose whatever we want for our lives.

Papa: True, humankind has the ability to choose life or death, love or hate, healing or destruction. Having free will comes with a huge responsibility. Every decision made, affects what is. That is what so many of my children do not understand. Choices can spread love in the world and choices can empower evil. And evil has the ability to create havoc in all areas of creation including nature itself.  Its whole goal is to destroy what I treasure most. But let’s leave the subject of free will for another time.

CK: So you are saying that sin has an effect on the weather? On all the death and destruction?  Like Noah and the Ark kind of destruction?  Like Sodom and Gomorrah kind of destruction?

Papa: As you said, everything affects everything and everyone. It is why scripture says it rains on the just and unjust alike.

CK: That hardly seems fair.

Papa: Fair cannot exist in a world where humankind chooses evil over good.

CK: So when we choose good over evil, good wins, and if we choose evil over good, evil wins?

Papa: Correct, but it is not quite that simple. Gallon for gallon, goodness outweighs evil every time. Again, another discussion. The fact remains is that the intention or nature of the deed has an effect on the struggle between good and evil as well.

CK: The intention of the deed? OK. What does that mean?

Papa: The intention of the deed is the intrinsic nature of the deed. Does the intention of a choice benefit my creation or is it detrimental? Because of this, the intention behind a deed has power in and of itself, as does the result.

That being said, just because the intention is “proclaimed” as being for the welfare of others doesn’t necessarily make it so. That is why scripture says “what is done in the darkness will be seen in the light”. The truth always comes to the surface in one way or another, but in the meantime, evil is being fed. By the same token, if an intention is noble yet the result falls short, the noble intention still feeds love and goodness in my world and the lack of success is a non-issue.

So, what does all of this mean for my creation?

CK: There is always a reason to be hopeful as long as we don’t give up?

Papa: Indeed. Yet by giving humanity dominion over the natural world to serve its needs, there is always the possibility of abuse… abuse of nature and abuse of humanity to benefit a few.

CK: That is a sobering thought. 😬

Papa: How has this truth played out over time? Can you give me an example?

CK: OK, where do I start? Oh, I know. My book group was just reading how through the decades many immigrants came to this country willing to do whatever necessary to make a better life for their families and themselves. And there were those willing to take advantage of necessity.

Consequently, for some this meant working in the iron ore fields or coal mines which was dangerous work. Many lived with and then died from lung disease or lost their lives in accidents. It seemed, there was always another body to take one’s place. Human life was simply the cost of doing business. Wives and children were left behind to fend for themselves. Plus, we have known for quite a while now how this form of “energy” impacts our very fragile environment.

So in essence, the “result” is that we are abusing or destroying humankind and nature. Say, I just thought of something. Shouldn’t this all fall under “Thou shall not kill policy?”

Papa: It absolutely does. And those responsible will be held accountable. You can be sure of that.

CK: Well, I doubt “they” are too concerned about that. There are alternative forms of energy that are cheaper, safer, and less detrimental to your creation. Why are we even having to have this conversation? It should be a done deal.  It just makes my blood boil! 😬

Papa: Breathe, Katie Girl! “Why” is a good question. It has to do with the intent and result. Why would this practice go on if it is so detrimental to the world? Who prospers from this energy industry?

CK: Not people or nature, that is for sure. Investors?

Papa: So the intent?

CK: In many cases, the intention (hidden in the dark) is for the rich to get richer and those in power to claim even more power, whether it be a country or an individual. They disguise their real “intention” behind the banner of economic growth or “for the good of the people”.

Papa: Can you give me another example where false promises (intention) have led to disaster (result)?

CK: Well, I remember when I studied Nazi Germany in world governments in college. One of the reasons Hitler was able to get gain control over the German people was that he promised them a better life. He was going to be their savior, so to speak. He was going to “redefine” Nationalism and Socialism and blend it “into one strong new idea”. Germany was going to be at the top of the heap in world power. And we all know how that turned out; death and destruction for thousands and thousands not only in Germany but all around Europe.

Papa: What you say is true and unfortunately still an objective of some of the “superpowers” today.  But it doesn’t have to continue this way.

CK: But how can the “little guy”, who just wants to live in peace, make a difference that could change all this?

Papa: By working with other “little guys” to promote love and forgiveness in the world. First by living these virtues in their own lives, living in peace with one’s own soul, one’s own family, and so on, and then working with others.  There truly is power in numbers. And I am so very grateful for those who do this already. The problem is, is that the evil one spreads hopelessness and fear in the minds of my children…one of his most destructive and successful ploys.

CK: What I just cannot understand is how some can be so blind to what the quest for power and money is doing to others and to your world.  I guess if the truth is inconvenient it is just ignored.

Papa: Many times my truth is distorted or dismissed.  Scripture is distorted to allow for all kinds of evil. Free will tries to justify all kinds of sin and destruction.

CK: Oh gosh, a CNN newsflash on my cell. “Bomb cyclone brings blizzards, flooding and hurricane-force winds to the central U.S., and it’s not over.” It just keeps getting worse and worse!

Speaking of which, the evidence for climate change is all over the place, but those in the position to help, the ones with power and money refused to. Yet I would bet my last nickel that these same “investors” are probably lining up to invest in the mineral, gas, and oil deposits being “unearthed” in Greenland since their ice sheets are now melting.  And how will the people of Greenland benefit? Their fish industry and livelihoods are being threatened. But again it will be touted as a win/win for all involved. At least until the ink is dry on the paperwork.

And where are the walruses going to live? And what about the poles melting? Where will Santa and his happy little clan move? Kindergarteners will want to know these things!

Papa: Santa and his happy little clan?  😀 I love listening to you. You make me chuckle. What can you as an educator to promote an understanding of all of this?

CK: Hmmm… You do remember, I work with 5-year-olds, right?  I guess we can talk about Mother Nature and what we can do to help her stay happy and healthy. And I can talk to the kids in my religion class about the responsibility of how they lead their lives in response to this situation; as our responsibility as caretakers of God’s creation. We really should be making Environmental Science a prerequisite for graduating from high school.  That would really help!

Papa: Excellent!  One way or another everyone can have a positive influence for change. But there is one more thing that can help save my world besides taking care of creation. What did my people do “back in the day?”

CK: Like way “back in the day?”  🤔 Sackcloth and ashes? That is what saved Nineveh.

Papa: A+ 👼

CK: I have been teaching religion for 7 years now. Some of it was bound to stick sooner or later. 😀

Papa:  But seriously, repentance has a massive influence on healing my children and my world.  It not only frees one from the torment and damage sin does to one’s own life and soul, but it also takes power away from evil. If, by repentance, the sin is “no more,” then the power that sin has given to evil disappears as well. Hence, healing can take place.

CK: How simple is that? At least in theory. But it does make total sense.  Yet there are many who will try to discredit your truth, Papa. There always are. 🙁 I suppose you are used to that. It has been happening since the beginning of time, starting with that slimy, slithery snake.  No wonder “bad guys” are sometimes referred to as “snakes in the grass”. 🤔

Papa: You, my child, must never underestimate the power of love and the quest for truth. When humankind begins to use their “free will” to make choices beneficial for the majority, rather than the minority, then true healing of the earth and my children’s lives can take place.

CK: We really could heal the world…

Papa: Indeed. I am not giving up and neither should you.

CK: I won’t. 🙂 I just get worked up once in a while.

Papa: And you wonder why your friends call you the Empress of Drama “once in a while”? 😃

CK: Only in the best possible sense. 😁 Thank you, Papa. I need to let this all sink in. My brain is full. I love you, Papa❤

Papa: I love you too, my precious child.  ❤ Now go share some of that love in your heart with the rest of the world.

CK: You’re the boss. 😘

Points to Ponder: Being a good steward in this world is one way of expressing our love for God and our gratitude to Him. What does that mean to me?

Challenge: What is something concrete I can do to help tend to God’s creation, whether recycling, donating to a charity that works to clean up our environment, writing to your government representatives about these obligations. If we all do one thing, much can be accomplished.

“The earth is the Lord′s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”     Ps. 24:1-2