I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time – Rom 8:18-22.

Today, September 11, 2017, the 16th anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of United State of America in which nearly 3,000 people died and over 6,000 wounded in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. would be affected by Hurricane Irma. Just as US is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma, some counties has cancelled the annual ceremony as they prepare for the approach of Hurricane Irma which is expected to hit metro Atlanta during the week.

A meteorological projection shows Hurricane Irma making landfall on September 10 and 11, potentially bringing fresh devastation, capable of ripping roofs from houses with estimate of 116mph winds stronger than the deadliest and most destructive storm of 2012 and second costliest in US history, Hurricane Sandy. The question begging for answer beyond scientific prediction is the reason behind this storm that is producing strong winds and heavy rain which is causing dangerous flooding and destruction. God, a covenant keeping God is the giver of life and not in the business of causing natural disasters and calamities (Is 51:6). Natural disasters that engulf our world are reminders that this world of covenant breakers, world of sin, hate, fear, and tragedy is temporal (Nah 1:9). The deceit in the world, spreading the idea that there is no real devil continue to make it difficult for many people to see Satan who deceived Eve, and through her he led Adam to sin as a pointer to covenant breaking and natural disaster (Rev 12:12). The floodgate of evil in the world opened when Satan, the Lucifer, made a devil out of himself and was thrown out of heaven and thereby became the god and ruler of this world. The world became subject to sin and death from a variety of sources, hence, natural disasters and calamities are reminder that salvation through Jesus Christ is the hope of human race. This necessitates the need for human repentance and change of heart.

Just as September 11 ‘changed everything’ according to the American official mythology, Hurricane Irma, calls for ‘everything changed’ in human heart, a renewed covenant. September 11 changed the policies, methods and structure of the US government ‘to be radically revised in the light of the terrorist attacks,’ and mostly against the American working class with their basic rights under threat as never before. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes calls for ‘everything changed’ about the greater chasm between the wealthy few and the broad masses of the Americans. Beyond the American recession turnaround that has left many communities behind, the report by Economic Innovation Group provides clue to a growing gap between the top zip codes across the country, places that have experienced an economic boom and country’s most distressed ones. According to the report called the Distressed Communities Index, “Most American communities are not distressed, but they are far from flourishing … Zip codes mere miles apart occupy vastly different planes of community well-being—and few people are truly mobile between them. It is little surprise that many Americans feel they have been left behind.” The parable of the rich man and Lazarus comes to mind in the breaking of covenant with fellow Americans and God. The rich man is guilty of ignoring Lazarus. The rich walks everyday past the desperately poor Americans despite the opportunity to provide bit of aid and not wait until calamity visits the poor.

The two tragic events, September 11 and Hurricane Irma though fundamentally different, have some commonalities. September 11 was a deliberate, hate-filled, extremist attacks in contrast to Hurricane Irma, are calamities which affects people and could be avoided and handled in a different way. While September 11, 2001 summoned us to ‘changed everything,’ officially, Hurricane Irma calls for ‘everything changed,’ starting with the love inherent in the human heart, spreading the love freely and widely from Harvey’s victims in Texas, on the earthquake’s victims in Mexico, on Irma’s victims in Florida and on its victims in Anguilla, Haiti. The reflection about America between September 11 and the Hurricane Irma is a call on the rich and elites not to miss their only chance on earth to do the right things for the poor. The warning is that ‘the “great chasm” that exists between the rich man and Lazarus in the afterlife mirrors the great chasm that existed between them in the material world.’ To Make America Great Again and fight the common enemy of perverted ideology and radicalisation, the American elites must be ready and willing to close the expansive gap between the extremely rich and extremely poor Americans. Wealth-driven leadership without the fear of God and genuine love for the poor poses a great danger to the future and greatness of America. Paul’s words in Romans 8:18-22 provides the ultimate and ever-greater hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Greatness, as one of the blessings of God is a covenant and not a political promise. Greatness is unlocked by divine principles and without obedience to these principles, greatness becomes a struggle. The political slogan, to Make America Great Again calls the Americans, especially the elites to renew their covenant with God in Making America Godly again.