Volcano

Some years ago a series of seismic rumblings on a Pacific island signalled that their long dormant volcano was reawakening. Over the weeks and months that followed scientists confirmed that the rate of activity was increasing and gave reason for concern. To protect the island’s inhabitants the situation would be monitored closely.

A missionary priest had tended his flock on the island for many years. In his sermon each week he spoke of the infinite power and goodness of God. He told the congregation of the need to place all their trust in God and that he would never let them down. God, who made heaven and earth, and who knew if one small bird should fall to earth, would protect his people from all harm. He told them that the growing tremors from the volcano were sent by God as a sign of his power and that through these signs God would reveal himself and save them all.

The US Navy were carefully monitoring the situation in the Pacific and, following a significant increase in activity decided that all naval staff on the island’s base should relocate temporarily to Hawaii. Within a week only a skeleton staff remained and many volcanologists had moved in to make more detailed measurements of the developing situation. After reviewing their first week’s data the scientists determined that the volcano was quite unstable and that a general evacuation was advisable. The government issued an alert, providing transport and temporary accommodation to hundreds of islanders who heeded the warning and left hurriedly.

In the church next Sunday the priest preached trust in God to the handful of parishioners remaining. After the service many of them told him of their plans to leave and implored him to join them. “The scientists have warned us that we should leave. There may be only days before the whole thing blows up”. “Not at all” replied the priest, “I’m staying here; God will save me from any catastrophe”.

Over the following days the island’s evacuation was completed. Satellite imaging and remote sensing equipment, placed all over the island, provided the scientists unprecedented detail in their observations, and told them with increasing certainty, that the forthcoming eruption would be enormous. The public safety review body was relieved to hear that all islanders had been evacuated and were being cared for generously on neighbouring islands. On hearing that the island’s priest had chosen to stay the governor ordered that a frigate be rushed to the island and that he be taken off immediately.  Within hours a landing crew arrived by helicopter and told the priest that the volcano was now certain to explode and that he must leave without delay. “I’m going nowhere. I trust in God to save me from all peril”. The exasperated crew reported the situation and returned to their ship 40 miles away. Three hours later the island disappeared in a cataclysmic explosion which was heard several hundred miles away.

On arrival at Heaven’s gates, St Peter told the priest that God wanted to speak to him in person and showed him into the courtroom. When God entered the priest fell on his knees in worship and covered his eyes from the blinding light. “Master, I fought the good fight. I lived by your commandments and none of your sheep were lost, but I trusted in you to save me and I don’t understand why you didn’t.”  “Yes, by rights you ought to have been on earth another 30 years, but I did everything I could. I sent the scientists, the parishioners and even a naval frigate, but you wouldn’t listen to any of them”.