A Pandemic, Wildfires, Floods, Creeping Hurricanes and Birds Falling From The Sky

As Christians we are suppose to be people of hope. Our Christian religion is built upon hope, hope in the resurrection of Christ who opened for us a path to salvation and the Father. So I hate to be negative, but these are unprecedented times we are living through.  How can one ignore the signs of the times? If this isn't the start of the end times, what would that look like? (I certainly hope that is not the case and maybe once we get a safe, effective vaccine for the coronavirus things will seem "normal" again.)  

Climate change deniers had better wake up. Climate change is exacerbating the wildfires in the West. Warmer temperatures, drought conditions, wind events are all helping to fuel the fires. Yes, there have always been wildfires in the West, but not to this degree of destruction.

And then there was the slow moving hurricane Sally which did so much destruction in the Panhandle of Florida and the coast of Alabama. The hurricane was moving about as fast as we can walk, which made the flooding worse...also attributed to climate change. 

Pope Francis keeps trying to warn us. Climate scientists keep trying to warn us. But some human beings still don't get it. They think it's a hoax. Pope Francis knows better. Ask the people in California who barely escaped the flames, they didn't have time to get any possessions. So sad. 

Then the craziest story I read was about birds (thousands, maybe millions, of them) literally falling from the sky in New Mexico, to their death.  It's happening in other states as well. Scientists don't know if its related to the wildfires out West, but its affecting migratory birds. Time will tell what happened to them. 

I hope God has a plan to save us from ourselves. Because we don't. 

NJA

The Partying Goes On....Some College Students Still Don't Get It

 It's dismaying to read that SUNY Oneonta had to cancel in person classes less than two weeks after classes started because nearly 400 students contracted the coronavirus. It seems a few students threw parties even when they were not suppose to. They just couldn't wait, no matter what....a pandemic?  We won't get seriously ill, so they thought.  So sad. Five students were suspended because they organized those parties. But there were plenty of students who attended those parties, even knowing that it didn't make good sense and they could contract a serious disease. 

Sounds like science fiction. Students who tested positive were told they had to leave their dorms, some in the middle of the night , teary-eyed, being escorted by people in hazmat suits. 

And it's not only happening in upstate NY. Plenty of other campuses, who've just opened, are having problems controlling their students, who just have to party. The party must go on, regardless of the consequences. Nationwide this is a problem, with outbreaks on campuses in Georgia, Texas and Iowa. Even the University of Notre Dame, couldn't convince students that the partying had to wait.

It seems some students are not wearing masks, they are not social distancing, and they cannot resist gathering on and off campus for socialization. 

Dr. Deborah Birx, said at a news conference that students should isolate in their colleges if infected with Covid-19. "Do not return home if you're positive and spread the virus to your family, your aunts, uncles and grandparents."

But in many cases, that's not happening. Concerned parents are picking up their kids and bringing them home. (I probably would have done the same.) Hopefully they're isolating at home, but their families are still being exposed.

I wonder, if students were all tested before going onto the campuses? Were they told how serious the situation was? Were they warned sufficiently? Were the consequences of ignoring the rules not to party or gather in large groups made crystal clear? I tend to doubt it. 

I pray for a safe, effective vaccine as soon as possible, so we can all get our lives back. Please God enlighten those seeking the vaccine and cure. After all, the party must go on.

NJA