Moral Anchor

Relatively few have died so far in the recent enormous geological events. I feel they are maybe the lucky few. What if the others who have lost their homes, belongings, livelihoods, education, and social identity are now hopeless and want to die, but keep on waking up in desperate circumstances on earth? When the colossal destruction is over, scarcity of every kind and disease will surely follow. In the biblical John's vision of "what must take place"(Revelation 4:1), "During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them" (Rev. 9:6).

My thoughts. Perhaps the few who left catastrophic events early had already achieved sufficient spirituality to earn them an escape. Perhaps the majority who haven't must continue to live through the events, and their dreadful aftermath, to experience the power in them. Perhaps those who have no moral anchor will suffer the most in the absence of something for their soul to cling to for courage in the present and hope for the future.

Most videos of the events focus on the destruction and loss of vehicles. Vehicles are usually one's badge of identity in either belonging to, or being separate from, others that matter to one. I feel that, in the heaps of 'dead' cars we are seeing, two themes are emerging in a new world order. Firstly, the end of personal property; secondly, within the disasters a promotion of unity. In a tragedy, we are all tragic figures. Notice how rescue workers do not distinguish between rich and poor. Their spiritual calling to do their work naturally urges them to bridge gaps in faith communities for spiritual solace and renewal. Literally, rescuers bring strangers to join hands to help one another to survive. The lesson is clear to me.

Having lost ground to any of the disasters, we need a moral anchor. Interestingly, faith is weightless. We don't have to drag, float, or carry it. It is the most important item in our mortal luggage. Let it be the first thing we salvage.