Greta and Susan the Prophetesses

So I am putting these 2 books together. Both written by females, both trying to bring attention to the climate / environmental crisis. Both calling out to those in power. Both are short books and could be read in a few hours. One autor is 16 the other a grand-mother. One an Anglican Priest the other, as far as I can see, no religious background or reference point.

Susan’s carries what you might call a mature Anglican spirituality, weaving in the common book of prayer, the words of Jesus and other scriptures to make her case.

Greta – is, by contrast, direct and blunt. More like an adolescent with attitude who, as she admits, is classed as being ‘on the spectrum’. But, as she points out: her neuro-logical condition means she tends to see things in black and white. This she realises is a strength as she is clearly seeing this bio-diversity crisis more clearly than ‘normal’ people.

As I was reading both these books I was also re-reading the book of Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet. I have to say Greta, more than Susan, feels more aligned to the Old Testament prophets. Her stark warnings, her bleak painting of the future, her direct language, her unwavering attack on hypocrisy and highlighting the failure from those in power.

Susan carves a softer tone but buried beneath that she is also carries a punch or two.

‘Unfortunately business as usual is only an option if we are content to run blindly into a future which bequeaths to our children and grandchildren a brankrupt planet with devastating suffering. That is not what any of us want.’ Pge 17!

And my favourite:

‘A diverse body of worldwide Christians who love the creator, we could be a worldwide, significant and positive example in addressing the present ecological crisis. Collectively, across our diversity of traditions, denominations, cultures and age groups, we could make a huge impact by millions of individual Christians working in the power of God. For this to happen we would need a refreshed understanding of God’s THIS, which could lead to personal and community transformation……Important for us as Christians is a refreshed understanding, leading to a much-needed repentance and change of heart, inspiring us to listen again to the guidance and hope God gives us.’

Finally as I read and then re-read some of Greta’s speeches I was struck by the brilliance of her writing. Short, no waffle, good structure, punctuated with both good stats, backed by science, outlining our choices and, like all the best communicators, articulating imagery and metaphors which our minds can picture and play with.

I like to think that as God scoured the earth for someone to be his voice-piece, He landed on a lady, still in school, with neurological disorders, from a relatively unpowerful country to shame and speak to powerful leaders. (Mary found and expressed something similar in Luke 1, 46-55!)

And so the final words have to go to Greta. So I leave you with 2 quotes both of which seemed to echo the very words of Jesus from Matthew 7!

‘Our civilization is so fragile it is almost like a castle built in the sand. The façade is so beautiful that the foundations are far from solid.’

‘Humanity is now standing at a crossroads. We must decide which path we want to take.’

We should indeed!