By Jennifer Kryszak, Director of Strategic Planning for the Franciscan Peace Center

“Yet, with the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point. In addition to this possibility, it is indubitable that the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.” Francis, Laudate Deum, 2

Climate change. Rising sea levels. Severe weather. Extinction of species. Drought. The realities of climate change are evident throughout the globe. Yet, the impact of climate change affects far more than the natural world. Famine. Loss of a way of life. Forced migration. Conflict. War. The impact on human communities is likewise evident. As Pope Francis notes in Laudate Deum, the ecological crisis increasingly affects human communities, especially vulnerable communities (2). Francis maintains, “This is a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life” (3).

These interconnected crises call us to respond to the needs of the Earth and the needs of those most affected by climate change. And yet eight years after the publication of Laudato Si’, we continue to struggle with climate denial and a lack of sustained effort to address climate change. Why? How can we move forward to truly commit to caring for our common home and all people? How can we move from a place of conflict and despair to a place of hope and action?

Hope is required if we are going to work to create a future where all of creation can flourish. Hope can nourish our efforts and provide reason for moving forward. And yet, our society lacks hope, lacks a reason for a future vision, lacks reasons to plan for the future. Two years ago, I taught several college courses that focused on theology and justice issues. In conversations about the environment, it was clear that many of these young people did not have hope for the future, their future. Several questioned why anyone would want to have children at this time. They saw no future to pass on to another generation. This sense of anxiety and lack of hope is not unique to the young people I taught. Research published in The Lancet on youth and climate change reveals a prevalent sense of anxiety about the future.  Surveying 10,000 youth from ten countries, researchers found that 59% were very or extremely worried and 84% were at least moderately worried about climate change. What will their future hold? How can they plan for a future that is so uncertain?

This anxiety and even despair is not necessarily unique to young people. As people of faith committed to justice, we can be overwhelmed by social justice issues that do not seem to be resolved and decades-long commitments to movements that only slowly change our society. Political divisions and an inability to communicate with those who hold different views can stifle our vision for a future where all people flourish. Our impatience can get the better of us as we desire immediate solutions. We can lose hope and, with it, our energy for our commitments.

To keep moving forward, to care for our common home and all vulnerable people, we need hope for a shared future.

At a recent Encounter for Our Common Home meeting, people were invited to share where they found hope as they work for climate justice. An excellent discussion ensued that highlighted many projects and actions taking place at the local level, but what I found the most compelling during the conversation was when a participant noted that we should turn to our heroes. Heroes can offer inspiration and direction for the work that we do. We can see how they overcame great odds to succeed, to blaze a new path, or to create change. Truly knowing the stories of our heroes can remind us of the challenges they encountered and the qualities they demonstrated in the process. These heroes can help us better assess our own experiences and to realize that change does indeed take time. Moreover, they remind us to have hope, to believe in the movements that we are committed to.

Who are your heroes? How do they shape your own commitments and actions? How do they challenge you to take action to address the ecological and social crises? On this Pentecost, let us call to mind these heroes and draw on their spirits, their energy, their hope for a future where all of creation flourishes and lives in peace.

Want to join a community with hope for the future? Join the Encounter for Our Common Home Campaign meetings on the last Friday of the month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Join the meeting at this Zoom link.