Typhoon Haiyan presents a poignant opportunity for us as people of faith to exercise both our compassion and justice muscles. The devastation is catastrophic for cities that were in the direct path of the storm and the needs are overwhelming. Working together in times of crisis in our extended human family to pool our resources is yet another reason for “why church?” And because we regularly give to disaster ministries through One Great Hour of Sharing means that we have already prepaid the overhead for 100% of our special donations now to go directly to relief efforts.
You may also give on Sunday and write “Philippines Storm Relief” on the memo line of your check (made out to MPC). This is the work of compassion that is desperately needed for those who have been impacted.
And yet, what about the justice issues attached to this disaster? (see my recent blog on Justice and Compassion) Many of us are quite clear that “superstorms” such as Typhoon Haiyan and last year’s Hurricane Sandy are part of our rapidly accelerating climate crisis. Our sisters and brothers in the Philippines have no doubt that this record-shattering storm is a harbinger of increasing damage and destruction resulting from global warming. As a result, their government has already called for an immediate end to the stalemate on international climate talks held this week in Poland and an “emergency climate pathway” to be found immediately.
The political climate in the United States is just as toxic as the carbon that is at the root of this climate crisis. Sometimes it seems as if even those leaders who support immediate action on climate change have just given up in the face of hostile resistance from their opponents. How can we help with this justice work? What resources can we pool together to address this planetary emergency? I know many of you have been engaged on these issues for a long time both through the church and beyond the church and I am deeply grateful and proud to be among you in this work.
Still, even as we give to help the victims, let’s “keep on keeping on” with the justice work too.
Love and many blessings,
Melinda