Haunting pictures of the flood in British Columbia cry for an answer.
The latest devastating flood events in British Columbia deeply disturbed each one of us, as the tragedy embraces so many people and so many communities. We are shocked by the pictures from the land of beautiful British Columbia. After scorching heat in the summer which resulted in hundreds of kilometres of forest fires, the province is now facing a flood of enormous proportions. Our hearts are deeply immersed in tragedy as we witness the devastation of homes, roads, bridges, towns, and the evacuation of several communities. The amount of devastation is still being assessed, as the flooding continues to destroy everything in its path. The question that ponders my mind relates to the reality which is upon us in British Columbia, or in any other devastating reality in the world. How is it possible to face and explain the reality of such devastation in the context of Church and the presence of God? Are we equipped, as humanity, to deal with this question to the point of finding a satisfying answer? These questions are at the core of our beliefs as Church and as faithful disciples of the Christian faith.
The answer to these questions will require more than a one page analysis and more than an opinion of one priest. The answer pushes us to the core of our beliefs in the presence of God, the Creator of heavens and earth in the midst of suffering and pain. Even though the subject here discussed is of a larger scope of “Theodicy - the presence of God in the context of suffering”, I’m reminded once again of the power of silence. In the perspective of this calamity, I’m bound by my own limitation to say nothing for fear of saying too much. How do we explain to a single mother the fact that the only home she has for her children was washed away by a rushing river? How do we explain to the farmer the fact that within a day their cattle was swept away along with their livelihood that took years to build? There are too many difficult questions which we need to ask ourselves if we want to be credible to those who are devastated by this nightmare. An elaborated theological answer of moral law, natural law, the fall of humanity, or an “occasion to strengthen our faith” can be perceived as religious arrogance. Any attempt to give a theological answer at the moment of tragic event could lead those affected to the stage of despair and loss of faith in general. The moment requires a cautious and sensitive approach on our part, which could be more appropriate than any other speculation.
As we confront these questions, we have to realize that we will never realize the amount of pain and loss of those affected in British Columbia or any other place in the world affected by similar calamities. We are outsiders who via our media network try to share the tragedy and the pain. Every tragedy and every personal calamity is always subjective and we should never assume we know the amount of pain in the lives of the ones who are directly devastated. As
such, it is better in those moments to limit the scope of our explanations and speculations to the point of listening. We have to realize the fact that there are natural forces in the world which we do not understand or comprehend. These forces affect our immediate lives, but they are outside of the human realm of understanding. This reality of natural forces is so immense that we as humanity feel so miniscule and insignificant. It is a paradox for people to be able to see the pictures from the planet Mars, but be unable to understand the natural forces that impact our own planet. As such, the faith of the Church limits itself to the context of listening, where we are at the point of reaching to God for an answer. In those moments of tragedy, as it is in British Columbia, Ethiopia, North Korea, Sudan…, it is more faithful to reach to King David, who in the moments of a similar situation said: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46.10). This is the only assurance we have that God is in control of everything, including natural forces. It is our faith as Christians to come to the realization that God is in control. We do not control the natural forces, but we believe that God governs the world. As a result, we do not take God’s place, but trust that God is the only hope we have in the magnitude of the natural forces. This brings us to the realization of the fact that in those moments we have to humble ourselves and refrain from speculating, as God embraces His people the way only He knows. As the words ask us to be still, silence/listening, as a powerful force, leads us to action of saying: “I’m with you my neighbour, and I will help you to stand once again in the presence of God. Silence is not inaction, it is the ability to listen and to act in the presence of our neighbours’ calamities.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them”, (Hebrew 6:10)