Meditation on a Black Swan

MEDITATION ON A BLACK SWAN

See "Images" at Google:"Black Swan" I'll insert my

 

original as soon as I learn how.

                                                            
Few Americans have ever seen a Black Swan (Cygnus astratus) and more than a few might say there's no such thing. With the publication of Nassim Taleb's classic book of the same name the term leapt into our common language http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com. Its greatest contribution outside of economics may be as a metaphor for the environmental and sustainability movement. 

As a topic of concern in a spiritual community, environmentalism is noticeable but hasn't hit stride. Generally, faith communities have yet to take up the banner of sustainable living. Issues of doctrine, economics, justice, power, and more vie for attention from leaders and congregants.

Since sustainability is metaphorically a Black Swan in North American culture it's understandable that it doesn't rank high on the list of concerns of most congregations. Bill McKibben, a prominent Methodist, leading activist, and environmental writer (Eaarth, The End of Nature, etc.) recently said, " So far climate change hasn't been a central concern of any faith communities, but that may be starting to change." 

I've had the opportunity interact with a number of churches and faiths as an energy consultant and haven't seen much evidence of that change. From the perspective of an energy auditor it's easy to notice that virtually every one of their buildings waste a lot of energy whatever values they espouse. I'm not surprised since no one alive has ever witnessed the collapse of a global civilization. Yes, we've heard about Easter Island, the Incas, and the Anasazi, but we're still here, aren't we?

Although there don't seem to be more than about a million environmental deaths a year we're still here. And, given the deaths of roughly eleven million children a year from easily preventable diseases, another million from environmental causes is (I cringe to say) a drop in the bucket.  

But those familiar with climate science and exponential math see evidence that our global civilization is like a "dead man walking". It may take divine intervention to get the planet and humanity out of this mess unscathed. McKibben's assessment forces us to ask, "If the world's religions act together, will it be in time to prevent the worst of the predicted calamities?" 

Of course, there isn't much evidence that level of cooperation has ever occurred. Of course, there's no order of difficulty in miracles. With over ninety percent of American's expressing a belief in a higher power and around forty percent claiming to go to church regularly, the ability of organized spiritual groups to influence cultural behavior seems great. As evidence, look at the influence in religion on population control. Population is the gigantosaurus in our global living room. Anyway, there will soon be seven billion of us in the global bucket. 

No one knows for sure what the carrying capacity of Earth is, since there are many variables. The primitive carrying capacity is different from an industrialized civilization's carrying capacity. Some estimates place it as low as two billion humans. Since humanity is arguably in "overshoot", there will likely be the usual die-off that species in overshoot experience. For a while, the body bag and funeral industry will experience exponential growth and prosperity. 

It seems noteworthy and illogical that cooperation between the faiths hasn't already occurred since sustainability may be the core issue facing religion and humanity today, Logic is not a strong suite in many faiths. Just because most of us, especially around the Northeastern United States, are ignorant of the precariousness of our global situation and of survival prospects of our species is doesn't make it untrue. 

The Empty Bell, a publication dedicated to Christian/Buddhist dialogue says, "At this moment in history there are many arenas of unnecessary suffering and justice that call for the focused attention of Christian contemplatives.  None are more important than the pressing reality of global climate change.  If we destroy life on our planet home, we have destroyed the context for all arenas of justice-making." 

The Black Swan of a perfect storm of crises, of environment, energy, water, and the economy, places us in a deciding role in the future of the species.  The way we live today and tomorrow will determine the outcome. We've squandered the best part of a quarter century ignoring warnings and words to the wise. As a species we've basically ignored them. Though it's easy to shift blame to big polluters and global corporations we're all responsible. It's only a matter of scale. 

It's an accepted fact among energy specialists that between fifty and ninety percent of all the energy we use is wasted by lack of efficiency and conservation. That means more than half of our greenhouse gas emissions can be profitably eliminated. 

There's the possibility of a real shift if merely a third of Americans, those who are among the regular churchgoers - ostensibly the most pious and spiritual among us - eliminated that waste. It wouldn't be the end of the problem, but it'd be a good start. It may be enough to buy humanity time for more comprehensive solutions.

Aside from an alien invasion, if ever there was a crisis that could unite all faiths, all nations, and all peoples, saving our collective environment (i.e. our collective butts) is the one. What holds us back? What are we waiting for? Has our species become psychotic? 

Do the faithful have the faith, the spiritual will, and the courage to save humanity? It shouldn't be that hard to change our behavior when our children and grandchildren's futures hang in the balance. This is especially true when it's so profitable to root out our personal energy waste.

McKibben told me, "I'd point out that the place we really need interfaith action is less in retrofitting churches than in strong political involvement. We're getting a lot of that at 350.org, thank heaven!"

Now that you've seen the Black Swan, it cannot be denied.  As the Elders Oraibi of the Arizona Hopi Nation said over a decade ago, "We are the ones we've been waiting for". (http://www.spiritofmaat.com/messages/oct28/hopi.htm)


By our works will we be known, and remembered. 

Our epitaphs are being written by our actions today.     
What will they say?