YOLANDA is the code name of the super typhoon that hit
several provinces and towns in our country, the Philippines, last November 8-9,
2013. It is considered to be the most
powerful typhoon in the whole world during this year 2013 with a velocity of
215 kms. per hour.
This is a phenomenon which is beyond the control of
men.
Seeing the great disaster wrought by this typhoon I asked
myself the following questions:
1. Why
is this phenomenon happening in the world?
2. How
is mankind responding to this phenomenon?
To the first question, the
answer of our so-called scientists is nature’s
change of climate due to men’s irresponsible abuse
of the world’s natural resources, such as deforestation, air pollution, improper waste disposal, and unrestricted
mining operations.
To the second question, seeing the disaster caused by
this phenomenon, there is a universal concern of mankind, coming from all walks
of life and from many countries throughout the world. We are witnessing ‘LOVE IN ACTION’ as relief
goods and services keep on flowing for distribution to the victims, though not
adequate enough as of today to reach out to all of them for one reason or
another.
For me, the message of God on this phenomenon is: Men
should respect the laws of nature and should be responsible in using the
resources of nature so as to satisfy the needs of all men, and not to cater to
the greed of a few.
As to the response of mankind to the plight of the
victims, it shows that, indeed, there is LOVE IN THE HEARTS OF MEN. This is a sign that LOVE is the force that
will eventually unite all men, as one FAMILY OF GOD.
Hopefully men will heed this message of God to respect
the laws of nature and be carefully responsible in the use of nature’s
resources.
I pray too that all men shall be imbued with a true love
for each other, considering each other as brother or sister, and not simply as
neighbor, for as Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin says in his book, ‘The Phenomenon
of Man’, “LOVE IS THE ONLY FORCE THAT CAN UNITE MEN WITHOUT DESTROYING THEM”.
by: Buddy Cagurangan
Nov. 17, 2013
