At a recent House Energy subcommittee hearing Rep. Charles Melancon (representing Louisiana) allowed the true grief of his heart to surface, I think he stirred the grief in the hearts of many of us who have grown up in this “Sportsman’s Paradise.”
As many of us watch the footage of the helpless birds immersed in oil, possibly the same grief of heart is stirred. Why? Because so many of us have been able to reap the fruits and blessings of God’s beautiful creation, and now we see it being stricken before us.
Granted, there is the downside since the fall, of the mosquitoes, pollution, biting alligators, snakes and sharks, and the like; but I think many of us can attest to the great gift God has given us in this coastal region, of the plentiful fish and wildlife, and the grace-filled experience of being out in nature whether for the hunting, fishing or other recreational activities.
As I reflect back on spending summers in Grand Isle as a child, so many fond memories come to mind. I even remember crying at times as we drove away from the Island because my experience there had been so meaningful.
I think I was experiencing a certain taste of God through relishing in His creation, even though I wasn’t conscious of it.
Well, I believe God’s heart is grieving with us now as he sees the devastation taking place in His creation. And, at the same time, He is in full control and could snap His fingers in an instant and plug the leak and clean up the mess.
Up till now He hasn’t done that though; and, good chance He will work through us to do the plugging and cleaning. But, as well, He waits for us to turn to Him as His children, to beg for His grace and mercy, and to surrender our lives to Him, that He may truly be our only God (as the 1st Commandment states).
He tells us in Scripture, “All things work for the good for those who love God.” There is a reason He has not given us more help in stopping this catastrophe sooner; and maybe it is because He’s waiting for some of us to turn to Him and give over control (or anything else that comes before Him in this life), and for others who are already surrendered pray-ers (though there’s always more), He’s inviting us to be “co-redeemers” with Him and suffer that others may come to know Him too.
We must remember that ultimately “it is not flesh and blood that we are fighting against, but principalities, powers and world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the Heavens” (Eph 6:12).
As I watched the video of the helpless, innocent, little bird who was soaked in oil and washing to and fro with the waves, my heart was greatly saddened; and then I began to think, if I, a mere creature, experience such grief with the wildlife that have no spiritual soul, how much more must the heart of God grieve as His beloved children in the womb are killed by their own*.
May God have mercy on us, His children. Haven’t many spiritual visionaries and prophetic voices warned us here in America that we would have to make reparation for the millions of abortions that have been and continue to be performed in our country?
Only as we turn to God with repentant hearts do we have peace of heart and peace of land. May it be so. May we all, through this tragedy, have the grace to turn to Him now.
*This is not a judgment on anyone who has had an abortion. God only knows how culpable a person is. And, for those who have repented and turned to God, “All things work for the good for those who love [Him].”
