In the wake of a serious disaster in the past, the tsunami that struck Indonesia in 2018 that killed thousands of people, someone wrote (in an essay that we can no longer find) that what is most noteworthy is not that such disasters happen.  Mankind has experienced them throughout his life on earth:  volcanoes erupting, earthquakes, fires, diseases, and so on with the rest.  What is remarkable, the writer said, is that despite all these disasters, in the face of so much grief and suffering, good things still happen in the world.

This applies to the tragedy of the flash floods that struck the interior of Texas on July 4^th.  The deaths of the young Christian girls at Camp Mystic, together with the other deaths that have now surpassed 100 people total, are heart-wrenching.  And yet what do we see once again in the midst of this bleak picture of death and loss?  Virtues of all sorts:  Hope, generosity, self-sacrifice, and more besides.  Surviving campers joyfully singing Christian hymns; men and women heroically risking their lives to save victims of the flooding, or to locate the bodies of the dead.

What is this?  Who or what breaks into the death and destruction and despair of this world to bring light and comfort and healing?  It is Christ; it is Emmanuel; it is God With Us.  The sin and rebelliousness of men and women and the demons have caused chaos to reign in the world, but God has lovingly descended from the heavens to restore and mend what has been broken and damaged:

‘If there is any sense to be made of these tragedies from our poor, myopic perspective, it is one provided simply and eloquently by the Church’s liturgical worship. From Nativity, through Theophany, and on to Holy Pascha which we are now preparing, the common theme that we celebrate and proclaim to each other and to the world is summed up in the name given to Jesus at His birth, the name Emmanuel, “God is with us.” This means not only that God accompanies us, remains present with us, and provides hope and consolation in our times of grief and loss. It means above all that God shares our suffering. He takes part in our pain and anguish, fully and to the bitter end.

‘ . . . Another and still more important point, however, is the truth expressed in the name Emmanuel. In the midst of a critically unstable, and at times violently chaotic world, we can hold fast to the one truth, the one reality that matters: God is with us’ (Fr John Breck, ‘Why?,’ oca.org).

It is the love of Jesus Christ that is seen time and again when disasters strike and overwhelm us, that lifts us out of them, that keeps the world from falling completely into the depths of hopelessness.

The saints of the Church, the honored friends of Christ, are quite clear that what happens in the physical realm is a reflection of what is happening in the spiritual realm.  Without a doubt, Texas has become a veritable spiritual battleground.  Over the past year we have noted in articles here at The Hayride that largely Christian Texas has come under assault from Hinduism, the death cult of Santa Muerte, and Islam.  While the ultimate causes of tragedies like the flash flooding in Texas are mostly hidden from us, we could perhaps venture to say that, considering the warfare that is raging on the unseen spiritual plane, we should be surprised that the physical manifestation of that warfare has not produced more destructive prodigies than it has.

And Church history gives us a strong indication of how to keep both the spiritual and physical destruction at bay – by imitating and honoring the God-bearing saints, especially the Mother of God:

‘The image of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which we especially venerate today, is not merely a church feast—it is a celebration of deep significance for the history of our country. On this day, we commemorate the miraculous deliverance of our country from the aggressive expansion of Khan Akhmat. There is no need to delve into the historical aspects or examine that particular event in detail. What is important for us as believers is to highlight the main point: that every time our state stood on the edge of disaster, divine intervention—through the prayers of the Mother of God—saved us from imminent destruction. If it were not for Her special protection, if not for the prayers of the saints, if not for the firm faith of our forefathers, it is quite possible that we would no longer be gathering here in church for worship, and most likely our state would have ceased to exist long ago.

‘When our state stood on the brink of ruin, divine intervention—through the prayers of the Mother of God—delivered us from destruction.

‘How many military campaigns have there been, revolutions, diseases, epidemics—yet our nation, like a phoenix, always rose from the ashes. And of course, one is led to the thought that this is . . . also a sign of God’s special care for our nation through the prayers of the Most Pure Virgin Mary.

‘On one condition will the Lord always be with us—if we preserve the faith and our spiritual values; if we do not cave into sin and stand firm in defending our spiritual culture. A great mission lies before us. We must be true bearers of the Spirit of God, to serve as an example to others—for faith is known by deeds. The Mother of God, who appeared to St. Seraphim of Sarov, would always say of him: “He is of our kind.” But are we kindred to God? Are we Christians in spirit or only in name? For history also knows the reverse—when our people stumbled, divine grace departed from them, and enemies overcame them—a vivid example of which is the Mongol-Tatar yoke. All these lessons were not in vain; all this was needed for us to understand that without God we are nothing. The Mother of God, of course, is always quick to help, always ready to assist—but She also expects a response of love from us: that we become God’s friends, that we be called the children of God. We must strive to imitate God, the Theotokos, and the saints’ (Father Kirill Popov, ‘Our Land is Saved Only Through the Prayers of the Mother of God,’ orthochristian.com; archived).

Until the Second Coming of Christ, while sin and evil are active in the world, there will be tragedies, there will be sadness and grief.  But the consolation of God is present with us until the end of the age:  present in acts of love, in prayer, in saints, in angels, and especially in the Most Pure Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary.  When darkness threatens, when tragedy strikes, whether in Texas or Indonesia or anywhere else, let us turn quickly to Her:

‘Do not entrust me to human protection, O All-Holy Lady, / but accept the prayers of your servant, / for I am fettered by sorrow, and I cannot endure the arrows fired by demons; / I have no shelter and there is nowhere to run. / I am wretched and my enemies are on every side, / and I have no consolation except you, / O Mistress of the world, hope and protection of the faithful. / Do not despise my prayers, but do what is beneficial for me’ (‘“Consolation in Afflictions and Sorrows” Icon of the Mother of God – Troparion & Kontakion,’ oca.org).