Day Six Of Christmas--Pray For The Health Of Our Warming Planet

Here's a graphic way of seeing the increase in the earth's
temperature over the past century and a half.

"The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him."

    Revelation 16:8-9  (NIV)

A recent headline in our local paper read, “Melting Arctic Ice Pouring 14K Tons of Water Per Second.” 

According to the article, reprinted from the Washington Post, the rate of melting in the world’s polar regions has tripled over the past decade, contributing to nearly 2 millimeters of sea level rise each year.

Most of this dramatic change appears to be the result of our insistence on a self-indulgent lifestyle in which we've become addicted to our comfort, convenience and overconsumption. And in the process of producing, marketing and transporting all of the goods necessary to make this lifestyle possible, we are burning vast quantities of fossil fuels that are polluting our atmosphere and contributing to global warming to a degree never dreamed of before.

I well remember the days before the completion of Interstate 81 when most of the trucks transporting consumer goods up and down this part of the Shenandoah Valley traveled on Highway 11, right through towns like Staunton, Harrisonburg and Winchester. This would be impossible today.

Our population has grown since, of course, but even with vehicles on our highways emitting fewer pollutants and being more fuel efficient, the sheer amount of carbon dioxide being emitted overall is far greater than ever. 

Besides praying, here’s a link to some specific ways we can better care for our precious planet: https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/

Also, see https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2013/04/where-theres-smoke-theres-denial.html