15 DEC.’09
Dear People….
The end of my fast had left me in something of a spiritual quandary, and—to be perfectly honest—with considerable pessimism as I consider the ongoing abuses of Creation that no amount of effort on our part seems able to stop. As for assuaging my grief, I realize now that this is something that no amount of fasting can accomplish. From a PR point of view, perhaps, I may have scored points for “our side,” whatever that means, but as I have tried to emphasize, that was secondary to the real motive, and all told, has not left me a happy camper.
I have had something of an epiphany, which I would like to share with you. I spent most of a gloomy, overcast, and rainy Sunday morning on the laptop following the news from Copenhagen, which included statements of concern from the peoples of Micronesia and other island nations that are being swallowed by the Pacific. This pushed many guilt buttons and did little to boost my morale.
I desperately needed a break, and as the rain had temporarily abated, I sauntered down to Wendy’s for my time honored antidote for the blahs—some coffee, the company of live people, and more light than was available to me in the apartment cubicle where I’d been with the laptop.
As I sat there with my caffeine fix, I wanted to say:
“What’s with it, God?? Why is the world in such a miserable state of affairs when most of us are basically good people and try to do the right thing? Why do so many have to suffer for the greed and avarice of a few?”
I didn’t get any direct answers, but developments in my personal life have given the concept of redemption a whole new meaning—especially at this time of year. Through no fault of my own, I’ve been born into a society built on the repression of minorities, the confiscation of their land, and the over-exploitation of our natural resources. Our culture is grounded on myths that threaten to destroy us—unless with the help and forbearance of The Almighty—we recognize the errors of our ways and take measures to correct them. You don’t have to be the prophet Isaiah to understand that we have some Big Time repenting to do. I’ve reached the stage where I feel twinges of remorse for nearly every bite of food I take, every creature comfort I allow myself, in fact for everything I do that entails sending fossilized carbon into the wild blue yonder (including typing this letter). When I turn on a space heater, I see beaches eroding in Micronesia and ice floes melting in the Arctic. When I bite into something from the industrial food chain, I see a miasma of methane ascending from a livestock feeding lot in Nebraska.
Perhaps God is sending messages to underscore our connectedness to others on the planet. Perhaps She/He is pointing out that luxury corrupts, and that we—as pointed out by a sign on a friend’s kitchen wall—should “live simply so that others may simply live.” The very basis of the Christian credo is that the weak and powerless are as entitled to a place at the table as the high and the mighty, and Christians cannot rest on their laurels until this ideal is attained for every person in every corner of the globe. And toward this end, we must now deal with the fact that we are part of that 5% of the world’s population responsible for 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
This epistle is for me a catharsis of the soul, and has pointed the way for the redemptive acts in which America needs to engage as it seeks God’s forgiveness. As for the Christian community, we realize that Creation itself is threatened. We have little time for emails and conference calls. We must go to the seats of power—to the White House, the halls of Congress, the streets of the Capital, and by nonviolent means–both legal and illegal—serve as a reminder that the lives of our marginalized brothers and sisters are in great peril as a direct result of the excesses and greed of our own civilization, and that eventually, if we do nothing, we too will fall before the ravages of climate change.
As Christians, we are in a position to speak and act in a way that carries some moral authority, despite the justifiable disenchantment that many committed activists have with mainstream religion.
My personal plans are slowly taking shape. With God’s help, I hope to join others in a prolonged fast in D.C., sometime after Jan. 21, when I have a court date for an action in September. I’ll spend most of the time till then at my home in upstate New York.
As we acknowledge the birth of Our Redeemer, so we must pray for our own redemption, and commit ourselves to His Kingdom on this earth. And may the Star of Bethlehem once more bring Hope to our hearts..
In Christ….
Roland
rtmicklem@gmail.com
As I sit here, near the shores of Lake Superior by my woodstove, on my computer, burning fossil fuel through my actions of living, like all Americans (indeed, most humans on the planet), I feel the same burdens that you are feeling, Roland. I don’t see there being any clear-cut answer to our consumptive ways, and definitely don’t see any answers from most of the body of Christ that I come in contact with. Mostly I feel denial from brothers-in-Christ, who seem to almost yearn for the degrading of this world that they believe, through some twisted interpretation of scripture, will bring the second coming of Jesus Christ. And the rest of humanity carries on as restless consumers, more interested in buying more product to assuage their urge to feel good.
The only answer I see is for society to limit population and for me to live as simply as I can – and to hone the edge of my simple living, to cut away the dross that is unnecessary in my subsistence – vegetarianism, walk, don’t drive, buy products for living that are built for longevity, measure my actions in terms of a carbon footprint, and do what I can do to affect change in my government, locally and nationally.
I wish you well in your direct actions and fasting for our planet!
Hey Don Watson. If you’re reading this, you haven’t made your personal contribution to your final solution to “limit population” have you? Jeez. Here’s an idea you might consider: Do something! Join the Navy (the Marines and Army would never take you), volunteer at a hospital, take a writing class. Hell, go chain yourself to a tree if you want but for pete’s sake man, quit the whining and moaning.
How can a man call himself a Christian when he knows good and well that he is taking a job from someone? How can he lay his head down on his pillow knowing he has taken food off the table of a hard working man that only was providing for his family? And how can people say they demonstrate “nonviolent, when they pulled a man off of a dragline? HELLO, what do they call that? And lets not forget chaining themselves to other equipment to “make” a point. These all were acts of stupidity and down right dangerous. I pray everyday for our coalminers, request prayer for them and their families at the church were I attend and I feel that my prayers will go unheard.
I would take a longer look at the acts that I have did down through the year and reflect on what I have did and ask myself…Is my God pleased with me?
And I have to say this..Judy Bonds you have put yourself out here in the public and I feel that you are getting everything that you deserve ….including those two slaps in the face. Be sure your sins will find you out.
God Bless and Have a Wonderful Coalmining New Year. God Bless OUR COAL MINER’S AND THEIR FAMILIES THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AND THE COMING NEW YEAR.
Mr. Micklem? SHE/HE? UH OH. I bet that Bob guy that has the radio program don’t like you. He hates Christians writing anything on this site. He says we have imaginary friends. If you need help knowing who I am talking about ask Mrs. Bonds she is fond of him. Well anyways did you know that the 2 things most responsible for CO2 is the produced gas from water and humans breathing? Hmmm. Did you also know that WV is leading the nation in trying to do their (our) part on mining and using coal more environmentally friendly? On the other hand the powers to be will not allow that to happen. Kind of an oxymoron. Do you know that when a company submits a plan for a MTR site one of the first things they must do is also submit a plan on how the land will be developed for a use afterwards? I bet 3/4 of the people involved in groups such as these do not. Ever read the story about Dudley Farms? How about visited someone at Mt. Olive Correctional Institute, or know someone who graduated from Mt. View High School? Ever visited the New River Gorge Bridge visitors center? Flown into Yeager Airport? You see Mr. Micklem you do not understand or allow the purpose of both sides of the story. I, sir, respect what you have done for our country, I admire your faith and belief in God Almighty. However I do not agree in the way you come here and portray the great state and people of WV as immune to the betterment of this country, and as parasites to the world. Ever been on vacation and you come to the state line and see your state welcome sign? When I see that coming home to WV I see a state that has delivered since the 1st World War in the way we can, That is producing coal. WV has fed this country, you and I benefit from that. WV provides 40 percent of this nations energy. There is your supply and demand. No demand, no supply! WV is better off than any state other than ND as we go into 2010. Not because of our government, not because of the state budget, but by the creed of our forefathers and the verse I have seen in the Bible, a man that does not work should not eat. WV has the hardest working miners on Earth. The only thing I see is a Union that is used to WV being the worst in most categories, upset they do not have the integrity to work like a West Virginian and lead the way on well…..supplying your and my demands. I read that you like coffee. Ever considered how much carbon is needed for a pot of coffee? Speaking of, I’ll enjoy a cup now. Happy New Year and God Bless!