Apocalypse Now, Redux?

 
Eleven years ago, the concern heard around the world was Y2K. If you’re not old enough to remember that, Y2K was a theory that computers and other electronics would not be able to handle the date change to the year 2000. This, in turn, would cause a worldwide collapse of economies and infrastructures. It would be the end of the world.
Today we have come to the end of the Mayan Long Form Calendar: December 21, 2012. Is it time for the end of the world again? I don’t think so.
I’m sure that many Doomsday Preppers thought they would wake up this morning to a world full of chaos and on the brink of collapse. At least it would be more chaotic than normal. Some preppers, with underground bunkers, probably went to sleep in their bunkers last night.
But what did you expect today?
Did you think it would be the beginning of the end? Did a part of you wonder if the Mayans really meant the end of the world when their calendar ended?
I’m sure any fear of the unknown surrounding today would be normal. As humans we have this desire to know what will happen in the future. We fear the unknown instead of trying to understand it.
And when a civilization or person comes along, claiming to know when the world will end, some will latch on to that information with all they have.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the show “Doomsday Preppers” and asked if you were a prepper. The point of that post was to highlight that it is prudent to be prepared for emergencies, but not to the exclusion of remembering that God will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory. I also wanted you to remember that God wants us to trust in him, not other people, when it comes to the future.
Over the past week we have experienced unspeakable tragedy in the school shooting in Newtown, CT and many people are still rebuilding from Super Storm Sandy back in October. When bad things like this happen, many people start to wonder if this is the beginning of the end. I can’t say that it is, but I can say that, going forward, what is most important is our reaction to events in a manner that reflects our faith in God and his providence.
We cannot change the past. We can decide how we will behave in the future; opting to be more proactive, rather than reactive; opting to put more trust in God each and every day. After all, for many of us, prayer is the only thing that keeps us going each day!
So what’s the lesson here, for today? Simply that today has come, it was coming anyway, and no one knows what will happen in the future. Love each other and be prudent in your planning, but not to the exclusion of knowing for sure that God will provide.
Dear God,
Thank you for allowing me to see another day. Though the world seems to be falling apart, I know that I can look to you for stability and protection. Help me to be more proactive in my life and turn over all my fears and concerns to you. Give me the peace that surpasses all understanding and help me radiate that peace and love to those I encounter.
Amen
 

Catholic Review

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