Calamity

As the attention of the nation shifts from one tragedy or catastrophe to another (and will continue in the days ahead), it would be well for us to examine our premises and the conclusions we draw from them.  If not a ‘tragedy’ or calamity of nature’s forces, or of the designs of evil persons, it will come in our own family, or of a close friend or acquaintance or of ourselves.  How are we prepared to view and respond to the inevitable? 

A perspective that has greatly tempered and informed my views on the seeming tragedies of our lives was that given over 50 years ago by a great Church leader of my faith—a man named Spencer W. Kimball who knew intimately, through revelation and his own suffering, that of which he spoke.  Following are some of his edited and paraphrased remarks (in italics) taken from his address at Brigham Young University titled “Tragedy or Destiny?” Interspersed, in standard type, are some of my thoughts which were stimulated by his remarks. 

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Many People critically blame every tragedy upon the Lord—they ask, Why did the Lord let this happen?  People who ask this need to check their premises.  

Was it the Lord [who caused this]?  Was He responsible? Or did He in His wisdom allow it to happen? 

Was it untimely…do we know?

Could the Lord have prevented this?  Yes! But if He did, the very purposes of mortality would be frustrated.  For we need opposition in order to exercise our agency which, in turn, drives our responses to such ‘tragedies.’ Mortality is our test. Suffering can make saints of people.

Every act of God is purposeful …He sees the end from the beginning.  Man, often, does not; we “see through a glass darkly.”  But not all things are ‘acts of God.’

[Because death is the most riveting of life events, are some people, or all people,] appointed unto death at a certain time?  Yes. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die….” 

Even the righteous will not always be healed as we appropriately pray for them or be spared these events of mortality.  Pray as did Jesus, “thy will be done.” But know, even solemn prayers may be answered…negatively and that is God’s will.

Know that we are born into a fallen world.  We will all experience pain, sorrow, suffering and death; they are part of what we came here to experience and respond to.  Through and because of them we learn great lessons and are sometimes given great opportunities to respond.  Bless the responders.  

But provision has been made for these eventualities.  Without the Fall there would be no need for a Savior or for a plan of redemption. The Atonement of Jesus Christ as our redeemer and Savior is the central doctrine of the Christian faith. We will live again.

It seems clear that the Lord does not , like we usually, consider death a calamity.  Death is a part of life. “The Lord takes away many, even in infancy because they were too pure….” (Joseph Smith, Jr.) He takes them to a better place.

Even seeming tragedy may be a part of a purposeful plan.  Or it may be the consequences not of God’s will at all, but of man’s choices or actions.  Many wars or acts of crime or terrorism or preventable catastrophes may be of this nature.  Many die before their time because they abuse themselves or are careless… (but many more –most?--have an allotted time to live).

The gospel of Jesus Christ  teaches us that there is no tragedy in death…but only in sin.

Of course we do not want any to suffer or to die.  But think of the consequences of that if we had the power, without the wisdom, to curtail suffering and death:

Would we spare  Jesus of Gethsemane and Calvary? Would we have the apostle Paul healed from his ‘thorn in the flesh?   Would we protect the martyrs for Christ?  What of all the innocents, the infants, the little children, the mentally handicapped? Jesus knew when “my time is come”   and I think he knows when our time is to come.  Until that day, because we do not know when our ‘time is come’ we should live as fully as we can, a day at a time,  as long as we can exercise some control of our own destinies. We should do what we can to prepare, but we should not fear.  

Is eternity so frightful…so awful?  No.  The righteous or innocent have absolutely nothing to fear.  

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16)

Crimes Against Young Women/Children

As is the case with all my weblog essays or postings, this is not a fully developed treatise, but within the limitations of my time and my readers’ interest and patience I believe you will quickly know where I stand in regard to this issue. 

I deplore the crimes we hear and read about against young women and children—the abuse, the abduction, the molestation and sexual exploitation, and I condemn the people who commit these atrocious acts. I believe our laws and criminal justice system should deal much more harshly with these predators and perpetrators.  It matters not whether the abusers are family members, posturing religious leaders, the neighbor next door, or drive-by abductors.  They have gone beyond the pale.  They need to be put away for good. 

From where do these unacceptable and damaging practices perpetrated upon the helpless or innocent come?  They come from brutish, uncivilized and morally bankrupt perverts (men mostly). They come, at least in our country, frequently from men who themselves seem to have been brought up in dysfunctional or non-morally- grounded homes or social environments. Yet that does not excuse their actions.  Upon investigation it seems that most of these people have been influenced by violent and sexually explicit or exploitive videos, movies, and television programs. There are few people who are forced to view these things.  Many or most are social isolates. 

Moral behavior for them, as well as for us, I believe, is “caught” as well as taught.  These abusers were once children themselves. It is the nature of many children, boys especially, to model the negative behavior of what they see and experience or participate in as they become older. One becomes like those he is around or sees constantly portrayed in ‘entertainment’ media. Traditions and culture are perpetuated for good or for ill. 

Upon whom are these crimes committed?  Children, especially ‘pretty children.’ 

Young children, by their nature as trusting, dependent, and initially helpless beings naturally align themselves with their parents and family and have no inherent reason to distrust their neighbors, teachers or other adults.  Yet these adults, more often than totally random strangers, become the children's assailants.  Children naturally love their homes and caregivers until trust and hope has become so damaged by repeated tyrannical or abusive treatment or by neglect that passive vulnerability or despair sets in and suicide, for some, seems the only way out.  My wife and I saw this in Samoa—a nation that ‘loves’ their families but because of victimization by extended family members or village neighbors has the highest female suicide rate in the world. These things are tragedies that must be stemmed. 

Recognition that the child in one’s stewardship or proximity is in reality a child of God (atheist or agnostic readers please read on) needs to be addressed in remedying the problem of child abuse or exploitation.  Just as we are not our own, (from a Christian perspective see I Corinthians 6:19-20) the children who live with us or are taught by us or simply come into our circumstantial space are not ours to use or abuse.  For parents, our children are loaned to us to love and nurture and rear to adulthood in righteousness. (see Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)  For others there is a civil duty to protect our young. This must be more forcefully taught from the pulpit and in the home and in our community organizations and more broadly understood by all. If people really believed and understood this, many behaviors would change.  

As knowledge of who these children are and whose these children are is critical for parents and all other caregivers, so too a child must understand his or her own undistorted identity and human rights.  It is his or her right that no adult can morally abrogate.   (See Romans 8:16; Psalms 127:3.) Even those who are not nominal Christians should know that children are not things to be used or abused. Children are not property of parents and young girls are not objects to be used by undisciplined and evil male predators. 

For a purportedly or historically Christian nation, then, if our society is to regain civility and protect our young, the culture of Christ must once more be afforded more credibility and pervade our homes and our culture at large. The Christian scriptures are more than literature: they are a guide to behavior that can bring peace, stability, and hope to individuals, families, communities and nations.  Christian leaders (most of our elected leaders are at least nominally Christian) and disciples of Christ must repeatedly teach and consistently model the behavior spelled out in our holy books if we hope for things to change. And until things change, we must be more concerned and protective of the victim or potential victim than with the perpetrator.     

I end with portions of a document that our country is a signatory of—though not ratified or accepted fully, to my knowledge—The UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child: Children’s rights and Responsibilities pamphlet (written in the 2<sup>nd</sup> person for the child):

•   Article 19. No one should hurt you in any way.  Adults should make sure that you are protected from abuse, violence, and neglect.  Even your parents have no right to hurt you.
•   Article 34. You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse.  This means that nobody can do anything to your body that you do not want them to do, such as touching you or taking pictures of you or making you say things that you don’t want to say.
•    Article 37. Even if you do something wrong, no one is allowed to punish you in a way that humiliates you or hurts you badly. 
• Article 42.  All adults and all children should know about the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  You have a right to learn about your rights and adults should learn about them too.

Situational Awareness

The events in the Boston bomb attack have once again, in my mind, brought up a concern that I have frequently attempted to influence others, in the sphere of my influence to be concerned.  It is that we, as a people, need to step-up our awareness of what is going on around us and not rely on others to be our eyes and ears and minds and voice and hands when we see or sense that something is awry—something that could be harmful to us or to them.  

Surveillance electronics such as video cameras or body-screen devices, or security or law-enforcement officers are good but are not a substitute for alert individuals. We cannot always leave our safety or well-being to others.  

There is a whole science to this notion, the term Situational Awareness (SA) apparently beginning coined with the U.S. Air Force combat observations in the Korean and Viet Nam wars.  Yet military and police work has been constantly concerned with it.  

M. R. Endsley's definition , as quoted in Wikipedia under Situation Awareness, is said to capture the concept: "the perception of elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status in the near future."  

In simpler terms, it is where something is out-of-the-normal in an environment in which we are familiar that could be dangerous to our survival.  It is then perceiving the threat and taking immediate steps to appropriately respond to it.  It is to get inside the so-called observe-orient-decide-act loop (OODA Loop).   After-the-fact investigation—black box recorders on aircraft, analysis of debris following a crash, reconstructing the conditions occurring before the event—may help in a future disaster, but will not help when the threat is immediate.  

I would like to suggest a few practical behaviors that we might try to integrate into our own life-practices and experience.  If we are prepared, we shall not fear.  

On a physical level it is to be aware of such things as weather threats such as tornado or hurricane warnings  or threats of flooding or a temperature drop that could leave ‘black ice’ on a roadway on which one plans to travel.  And then, and this is critical, to proactively leave the area, or proceed to a safe pre-determined location or stay off the road, etc. 

It could be to take note of where fire extinguishers and exits are located when entering movie theaters or auditoriums or stadiums or aircraft or watercraft; and to make prior arrangements to get seating that would place you in a quick-exit location.  It would be to always carry a mini light with you after dark.  It is to make it a practice to always look around.  It is to look both ways before crossing.

It would be avoid going places where crowds of people who are drinking or who are otherwise unlikely to make rational decisions gather who could impair your chances of survival if panic were to occur (e.g., getting trampled at a congested exit location at a hotly-contested soccer game or rock concert).  It would be to stay out of dark alleys or similar places at night.  Travel, especially at night or in cities, together in groups of at least two or three.  Park in lighted places. 

It would be to be aware of people dressed or acting (e.g., placing backpacks or shopping bags or cases; or overhearing conversations) in a suspicious manner or incongruous with the nature of what is normal in a given environment.  And then to immediately report your observations to a security officer or call 9-1-1 and distance yourself from the potential threat, or if very imminent and potentially serious, raise a warning voice to those in the vicinity. 

It would be to visually take note of the condition of the taxi/bus/boat/aircraft/friend’s car, etc., or habits of the drivers of these conveyances (e.g., their use of handheld devices when driving, or being in any way distracted when controlling the vehicle).  It would be to get off if you don’t like what you see.  

   

To the extent that you can exert any control you can improve your chances.  Additionally, if you believe that one of your unique skills is a duty to protect or help others around you, you will be more vigilant.

These are just a few examples of what we can do to become more physically situationally aware, but the same approaches can be applied to moral, cultural, or political dangers that are more and more affecting our way-of-life.  Be a trend watcher and don’t be afraid to speak up.  

Ben Sherwood, in his book The Survivors Club, says that “planning and preparation are the twin pillars of survival” (p. 304).  Let’s be proactive and be part of the solution to problems we will all sometime face.  I hope you will, with me, stay alert and raise the warning voice.

Florence Chadwick—An Inspirational Story

People of my generation may have heard of Florence Chadwick—people of ‘the Greatest Generation’ certainly have—but people of the Millennial Generation could do well to learn from this 34 year old long distance swimmer’s experience and how it could help them.  

Florence came to the world’s attention when, in 1950, she swam the English Channel from France to England in 13 hours and 20 minutes breaking the world’s record.  The next year she swam in the opposite direction setting another world record for time and yet another record for being the first woman to swim the channel in both directions.  

Those facts may be awe-inspiring enough.  But the lesson she learned in a very difficult  California swim was the one I found to be the metaphor for all who face seemingly unending challenges.  

In 1952 she attempted to be the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.  After fifteen hours, 55 minutes, she was pulled out of the 48 degree water just a mile from her goal. She told a reporter, “Yes, I was cold.  No, I wasn’t too tired to go on.  I was beat by the fog.”  

Later, writing of her effort she said,  “The California Coast had been shrouded in fog that 4<sup>th</sup> of July morning.  Even the boats in our own party were almost impossible to see.  When my mother and my trainer told me we were in sight of shore, that only fog obscured our landing place, I thought they were only coaxing, only encouraging me.  I didn’t believe them.  I couldn’t see it.  And I was so cold.”  

Because her effort was being televised as a pioneer sporting event in a then brand-new media, thousands and thousands of people had ‘seen,’ as best they could, the swim. Within days she received over 3,000 letters  which “indicated they had seen much more in my long effort than I had.  Something in the picture of a cold, lonely girl, swimming on and on through the night, touched them. and when they learned I would try it again gave them strength to hold on in their own battles.” 

“Their responses to my effort made me feel almost unworthy.  None of my successes had ever won me so many friends.  But the failure to swim a channel of water enabled me to learn something that will last a lifetime.  For reflection helped me see clearly that I had been licked by the fog.  Like doubt, confusion or discouragement, the fog alone had no power to stop me.  But because I let it blind my heart and reason, as well as my eyes, then it really defeated me.”  

Slightly over two months later Florence Chadwick tried it again. She said, “fog or no fog, I wouldn’t let these people down again. I remembered that Jesus had said to one of His disciples: ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.  Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.’” At that moment I knew the real meaning of faith described in the Bible as, ‘the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.’  When fog obscures our own vision, even when we’ve gone all out, and still seem to be failing and are too tired or cold to go on, then we must be willing to accept the word of someone who sees a little clearer, knows a little better than we do.”  

When she set out to swim it again on September 20<sup>th</sup>, 1952, the distance was the same, she wasn’t in any better condition, they encountered many of the same obstacles as before: sharks came nearby and were shot by members of her crew in the accompanying boats, the water was still numbingly cold, and in the middle of the course dense fog set in again.  But she swam through it.  Keeping a mental image of the shoreline in her mind, having a perspective of where her strength really came from, and a reference point, and trusting those who could see, made the difference this time.  

When she reached the California shore, the first woman to do so and breaking the men’s record by two hours, she knew her victory was being shared by thousands who were praying for her, and her knowing that He to whom they prayed could assure any victory.