I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. – Psalm 140:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 13, 2016): Psalm 140 & 141

Fort McMurray Fire  (CBC News/Reuters)

The disaster in Northern Alberta continues to be revealed. The truth is that even after the fire around Fort McMurray has finally been put out and the clean-up starts, aid will still be needed. Maybe what hurts the most is the political divide between Alberta and Eastern Canada, and maybe even some parts of the rest of the world. It hurts to hear people talk about “dirty oil” when referencing Fort McMurray. Northern Alberta, during boom times, has been the salvation of many in the country who could find no work other than there. And now, as destruction works its way through the city and the surrounding area, it sometimes seems that it is being unfairly blamed.

Let me be honest. To me, oil is oil. I live in oil country. And I get that the world’s dependence on one of the best-known carbon capture substances in existence, yes I am still talking about oil, needs to be reduced. But for a while, our economy is still in need of oil. Alberta needs to diversify. But the bottom line is that this is not the conversation we need to be having right now. Right now every ounce needs to be about fighting the fire, starting the clean-up and emotionally and physically rescuing the people of this northern Alberta community.

And no, this is not God’s revenge on the oil industry. (Please, why do we even dream of these things?) The reality is that the fire has burned through an old boreal forest. Unseasonably high temperatures, partly due to the El Nino cycle and partly due to climate change, combined with the dry conditions of this ancient forest, has created the perfect storm. As far as the forest is concerned, the fire itself will release new life, in this case, fire is actually the natural rebirth of nature. For the forest, this is the circle of life; this is the way it was meant to be.

But the human tragedy is our bigger problem. David says that God secures justice for the poor and the needy. But he also calls us to be his hands and feet in the task. Right now the evacuees of Fort McMurray are in need of God’s help, and therefore they are in need of our help. We need to find a way to uphold the cause of those in need, to be his hands and his feet, and to share the bounty that he has given to us.

And it isn’t just this disaster. Every disaster needs the attention of the people of God, both in prayer and in any other way that we can become involved. Justice ultimately comes from God and that means that his people need to be part of the process.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 143