Tears of God: the greatest environmental disaster
Ever since I was a kid, water, in all its states and appearances, has always fascinated me. As I grew up, I realised that, although it is fascinating, it is a finite material resource that can be either life-giving or life-taking. On the other hand, I discovered a new fascination: water as an infinite spiritual resource. Life-giving water. In the Algarve, the region where A Rocha’s first project sprouted 41 years ago, water is increasingly scarce. But Christ continues to flood us and to make us flourish with hope.
A deep sea covered in darkness and the Spirit hovering over the waters. This is how Genesis describes the universe even before Creation. Water has always been there. It was synonymous with fruitfulness and abundance for Adam and Eve, with condemnation for Noah’s contemporaries, with repentance and transformation for John the Baptist at the Jordan. In the same water on which Jesus walked, Peter sank. The same sea that was opened for Moses was closed for Pharaoh. When Jesus was born from Mary’s womb, he pierced the waters of the amniotic sac. When Jesus was pierced by the Roman soldier’s spear, blood and water flowed out. Life. And death. Our orchard here in Cruzinha, A Rocha’s first study and community centre, mirrors this dichotomy.
The severe drought that has plagued the Algarve over the last decade has already caused several of our fruit trees to succumb (meanwhile, the never-ending lawns of the region’s golf courses would make even the gardens of Versailles jealous). In April, when we had our last rainfall of the year, we planted new trees. In June, we were delighted to hear that, for the first time in three years, some of the (little) water that had accumulated in the nearby dam would be made available to us. With it, we filled the ponds, the cistern, watered the orchard again and life returned. Birds, amphibians, mammals, insects (including the rather unloved mosquitoes). They all came for the same reason. Will it last forever? Probably not. After all, the water that flows through the pipes of our irrigation system is just a ‘finite material resource’. Whoever drinks from this water, as Jesus would put it, ‘shall thirst again’. Fortunately, there is also the water of the ‘infinite spiritual resource’ type: ‘But whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst, for the water that I give him will become within him a spring that gives eternal life’ (John 4:13-14).
The pain of a wounded planet on the brink of destruction is temporary and healing is already guaranteed. The world is not going to end because of a lack of water. Nor are we going to save the world because we’re good at saving water (we’d better be!) – God is the saviour, not us. The prophet Zechariah tells us it is the Lord who sends the rain (10:1). God is sad because we are only interested in quenching our physical thirst. As stewards of Creation, we have a duty to tell the world that there is a river of living water that earthly circumstances cannot dry up. Christ’s second coming to this planet is the greatest and most important ecological act of all.
Of course, this should not lead us to an attitude of neglect, laziness or alienation in the face of the present situation. We must learn to take care of the planet with urgency and, at the same time, with serenity. Every time we look after the planet, we’re telling the world that the world doesn’t end here. Every time we look after the planet, we are telling the world that there is a time when water will never run out – and yes, a little piece of future can already be experienced now. Saving water won’t solve the problem of water scarcity. Saving water is a drop of hope sprinkled on the world. Avoiding plastic consumption is another drop of hope. Choosing organic and local products is another. Reducing our carbon footprint is another. All over the world, A Rocha will continue to sprinkle these and other drops of hope. Until the day when the Lord of rain comes to completely solve the problem.
I want to drink from the other water and become a source of eternal life from which others drink. That’s why I accepted the challenge of running this community centre, Cruzinha. Drink with me and let’s make a toast!
Rui Lino Ramalho
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