Friday, March 2, 2018

The upside of disasters and calamities


IT would certainly be naïve of us if we do not expect and
prepare ourselves somehow for disasters and calamities to come our
way. They are actually unavoidable, given the way we and the world in
general are. Nature itself has its limitations which can even be made
worse by a number of causes.
  
            But there is actually an upside of these eventualities.
Disasters and calamities, as shown abundantly in the past, both
proximate and remote, have that dynamic of getting us closer to God
and to one another. We lay aside whatever differences and conflicts we
may have with others. And this can come in a spontaneous way.
  
            Even those who openly do not believe in God somehow cannot
help but feel the need to appeal to a higher power and to help others
in some way. They certainly cannot remain aloof when these disasters
and calamities come. We can safely say that we are all wired that way.
Even hardened hearts melt in the face of disasters and calamities.
  
            It is good that we consider this fact more thoroughly so
that instead of being afraid of these unwanted events, we just have to
prepare ourselves for them with a positive outlook and the proper
spiritual and material readiness.
  
            Among the things that we have to remember all the time is
that God is always in control of everything. His providence never
stops and it is all wise and all powerful. He can always derive
something good from what can be considered as bad by us. With him, we
should not worry so much but rather should simply do whatever we can
in preparation for these disaster and calamities.
  
            We are already warned in the Book of Ecclesiastes that
there is time for everything (cfr 3,1) and that we should just enjoy
what we are doing (cfr 3,22), instead of filling ourselves with fear
and anxiety. We have to learn to be sport and game in this exciting
and suspenseful life of ours.
  
            St. Paul also said that we should not be anxious about
anything. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God,” he said. (Phil 4,6) He tells us what to do when some
anxiety-causing events come our way.
  
            We have to learn to live a certain sense of abandonment in
the hands of God. When disasters and calamities come, we should be
quick to go to God and to do whatever we can to help ourselves and
others.
  
            Let’s always remember that God never leaves us. We have to
immediately dismiss the temptation of thinking that God has left us
alone in certain moments. Only with him can the perishable things
become imperishable.
  
            In fact, if we have great faith in God, we can manage to
remain calm and of good disposition when disasters and calamities
come. And we would be in a better position to face them and to tackle
their consequences.
  
            Our capacity to cope and to adapt to new and different
situations would be enhanced. We would become more resourceful and
inventive on these occasions. Somehow we can discern the mysterious
ways of God that are always good, purifying and redemptive to us.
  
            We need to consider these truths of our faith slowly and
thoroughly in our prayer so we can develop the proper understanding,
attitude and skills with respect to the occurrence of disasters and
calamities. And let us help others to do the same. We need to spread
these truths of our faith more widely.
  
            That way, we would avoid being prone to fear, sadness and
self-pity. Instead, we would have a very positive attitude, quick to
spring to God and to others, when these disasters and calamities come.


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