The end is near?

This is part of Frank Sinatra’s 1969 classic song, My Way, the English-written version by Paul Anka of the French song "Comme d'habitude," written by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François, and, recorded in late 1967.

Remember this verse?

“And now, the end is near and so I face the final curtain, my friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case, of which I'm certain, I've lived a life that's full, I traveled each and every highway, And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”

Originally intended in today’s column as a question (the end is near?) to alert all that the 2030 deadline for global warming may be coming closer/earlier, this question, upon deeper reflection, can also be used to inform us about our Pope Francis’ recent serious health problem, Du30’s ICC detention, and Lent.

Japan’s forest fires (last Sunday in the western towns of Okayama/Imabari/Aso and in the Iwate area early March) should urgently alert us all to these dangerous warnings that climate change is-

a) “exacerbating forest fire risk by creating warmer, drier conditions, leading to longer fire seasons and increased fire frequency and severity globally, leads to higher average temperatures and more frequent and intense heatwaves, which dry out vegetation and soil, making them highly flammable;

(b) causing warmer temperatures and earlier snowmelt that lead to longer fire seasons, giving wildfires more time to ignite and spread with the combination of warmer/drier conditions and longer fire seasons resulting in more frequent and larger wildfires, and,

(c) creating a "fire-climate feedback loop" with forest fires, releasing large amounts of carbon stored in trees and soil into the atmosphere, further exacerbating climate change.”

When our dear 88-year old Pope Francis was hospitalized last February and had a breathing crisis on February 28, amidst prayers for his healing, the question of whether the end was near for the Pope may have surely crossed the minds and hearts of millions of worshippers.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of Pope Francis’ medical team, revealed that “there was a real risk he might not make it."

Now it can be told, cries the recent reports: “Pope Francis was so close to death that doctors considered letting him die peacefully” but they were persuaded to keep going by Massimiliano Strapetti, the Pope’s nurse who pleaded- “Try everything, don’t give up!”

Praise the Lord and thank God, our Pope Francis had just concelebrated a mass and “continues therapy as he rests and recuperates for the next two months.”

Let us join the rest of the world in continuing to pray for our Pope Francis’ complete healing and return to good health as he is so urgently needed to lead this present turbulent world disturbed, threatened even more by unstable, arrogant, self-interest guided world leaders.

Especially this Lent, let us also include Du30 in our prayers and ask for the will and grace of God for him, even if God and Pope Francis were cursed by Du30,

With Du30 detained at the Hague’s ICC facility, has the question- “the end is near?” ever crossed his mind? Many are praying for him to find peace with God where he is now.

Families of victims of Du30’s EJKs are heartened and encouraged and hopeful that justice may be near and soon be finally rendered.

Du30’s family and followers are also hoping that the end of his ICC detention is near and he will return to the Philippines and Davao soonest.

The end of Lent is also approaching.

During this season, we are reminded that Jesus Christ, scorned and covered with scars, still strove, with His last ounce of courage to win over death, with His crucifixion- to save/redeem and restore all humankind back into God’s love and eternal dwelling place.