whatifsometimeslifehappen

Many people all over the world went through much of 2012 wondering what if the world comes to an end this year. Others wondered what if we experience some major occurrence at the end of 2012 that leads to a new world order in 2013. So now that December is almost over and the world is still very much in tact, I wonder what now; what happens beyond 2012.

Leading up to December 2012 many persons all over the world anticipated that as per the Mayan calendar, the world would come to an end on December 21, 2012. Worldwide catastrophe was anticipated. Some even thought that maybe global warming would lead to this worldwide catastrophe. I remember back in Easter when the weather in Canada made a sharp jump from freezing temperatures to a more summer-time +20 degree Celsius temperatures. It was reported to be one of the warmest winters in Canada.  As I sat having tea with my neighbour one afternoon, she openly wondered if the warmer temperatures this year was a sign. She said she didn’t believe that the world would end on December 21^st, but wondered if we would experience something major, and if it would result in us starting a new, better world in 2013. Her fantasy made me think of the story of Port Royal, and I too started to wonder if a new world order was on its way.

Port Royal, Jamaica was once known as the ‘Wickedest City on Earth’. It was a haven for privateers and pirates – lots of drinking, prostitution and killings abounded there. Then on June 7, 1692 a massive earthquake hit Jamaica and over 2,000 residents of Port Royal died that day as result, with up to 3,000 more deaths from injuries and diseases in the months that followed. Many people viewed the occurrence as God’s punishment on such a wicked city. Today Port Royal is a quiet city, very unlike the place that it used to be.

Well no worldwide environmental catastrophe occurred and the world did not end on December 21, 2012, but for many persons it’s just as well if it did. I don’t recall any other year where there were so many tragic events worldwide than in 2012. Just to name a few, there was and continues to be the bloodletting in Syria. The current death toll stands at approximately 40,000 people. Back in October a former university colleague was killed and burnt in Jamaica. She was four months pregnant. Also in October, a woman in New York who was eight-months pregnant was stabbed to death on the day before her wedding.  Beneath her body was a note which stated that more pregnant women would die until the DC sniper is released from prison. Just a couple weeks ago, on December 14, 20 children and a few adults were shot and killed by a lone gunman at an elementary school in Connecticut. On that very day, over in China a man used a knife to injure 22 children and one adult. These killings remind me of the Bible verse Luke 21:23 which reads “Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.” (King James Bible – Cambridge).

Death came closer to home this year when in November my mom’s patient died in her presence. Then my step dad passed away on Christmas day. I still feel emotional as I think of my own dad and my mom. I pray that God will keep them alive and well for years to come.

Death is an ever-present reality these days. Times feel less happy than they once did, but for those of us who still have life, we must go on. Those who have suffered loss have to find a way to cope. Those who currently suffer in the midst of war and destruction must also find a way to cope or possibly escape. I’m not sure if there will be any further predicted world end now that mankind has survived 2012, but one thing is for sure, we can’t curl up in our homes  and refuse to stop living (unless of course you commit suicide). So we have to go on with our plans and dreams, and continue to have hope for a better world and better circumstances.