Please Look Up...and Around

                                                                Scene from Don't Look Up

 Last evening we watched the new Netflix film Don't Look Up with its star cast. Among the luminaries are Leonardo diCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Timothy Chalamet and more. As an offbeat comedic disaster flick -- or is that a disaster comedy? -- Don't Look Up has received mixed reviews from critics and everyday viewers alike. 

The essence of the story is that a young astronomer (Lawrence) discovers a whackin' big comet which is hurtling toward the Earth with the almost certain outcome of total destruction. She heads to Washington with her college professor (diCaprio) to sound the alarm, only to be dismissed, at least initially,  by a sleazy, self-absorbed president (Streep) who shares characteristics with the former MAGA "leader of the free world." 

I won't say much more about the plot, but the film really is a parable about the climate emergency and the failure of world leaders to address it. The slogan "don't look up" is adopted by President Orlean and her rabid followers until they all realize that looking down doesn't make the crisis go away. In our reality there are plenty of people, including leaders, who've chosen "don't look around" when it comes to climate change, to their peril and that of the planet.It seems that no matter how many weather disasters afflict the planet we look away and hum louder. 

You may recall that Leonardo diCaprio worked with former President Obama on a climate change awareness initiative. They were joined by Katharine Hayhoe who is a climate scientist working in Texas but born and raised in Ontario. She is an evangelical Christian who has relentlessly, hopefully, called upon people of faith to be part of the movement to save the planet. Her recent bestselling book is called Saving Us, which has landed her on talk shows and broadcasts across North America. I recommend reading the book.

The character Yule, played by Timothy Chalamet, is something of a slacker who came from an evangelical family but hasn't given up on God or Jesus. This seems to be a nod to Hayhoe's invitation to conservative Christians to make a difference. Yule prays several times as disaster approaches and in a scene that has a "last supper" feel Yule offers a blessing:

Dearest Father and Almighty Creator

We ask for your Grace tonight, despite our pride

Your forgiveness, despite our doubt

Most of all Lord, we ask for your love to soothe us through these dark times

May we face whatever it is to come in your divine will 

with courage and open hearts of acceptance.  Amen