It’s at the end of a contentious work week, well for some people who don’t work on Saturdays or through what is euphemistically called “the weekend.” For many people, however, the next two days are just like the rest of the week. The utility trucks and storm cleanup workers are still out there trying to reconnect and clear streets.
And, of course, New Jersey isn’t the only place where we’ve had terrible storms and stifling heat. Europe, closer to the Arctic Circle where, as a result of greedy fossil fuel corporations and countries (think Saudi Arabia), global warming is melting ice faster than we imagined.
And, also, of course, rather than encouraging alternatives to fossil fuels, the US, the largest oil and natural gas consumer, spurred by crass political interests of our leaders, have increased tariffs on an essential ingredient for solar panels. Consumed by their greed, they ignore the workers and the many others who pay the price. The problem is that we keep electing them. Time for a change, don’t you think?
Prayer for the Day
The sun, O God, your gift to us for sustaining life,
Now beats down on us in unimaginable ways;
The winds, once so gentle, now are instruments of destruction,
Speeding wildfires into our communities and homes.
Rouse us, O Lord, for we ignore your warning signs,
As those in power are consumed only by greed.
In the name of the One who called out the hypocrites,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the day
I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible… except by getting off his back.
Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist, from What Then Must We Do? (1828-1910)
Most of the mess that is called history comes about because kings and presidents cannot be satisfied with a nice chicken and a good loaf of bread.”
Jennifer Donnelly, American novelist, from Revolution
And Jesus said to them, “Take care! Be on our guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘
What shall I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink and be marry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Luke 12: 15-21