Signs from God?

Believe in signs? I'm not sayin' it is or isn't a sign, but when two ancient Christian structures reappear from beneath the water, you have to pay attention. Why did they reappear? Water levels are dropping ... and that's not all. Why? I'd suggest you read about them.

First: Low water levels at the Malpaso hydroelectric dam in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas have uncovered part of a 16th-century convent which was submerged along with the community of Quechula 40 years ago when the dam was built. Full story here.

Second: Visitors walk near the newly exposed ruins of an 11th-century church, which had been the only visual evidence of the village of Sant Roma, Spain, on April 6 (top picture).

The valley housing the town had been flooded in the 1960s to create a reservoir for the Catalonia region, leaving just the bell tower breaking through the waves of an artificial lake, seen at bottom in an undated file photo.

But a severe drought has now exposed the full ruins, drawing tourists to the dusty reservoir. For the story from Spain, click here.

Third: The American West is drying up fast, and the next megadrought may bring on the Super Dust bowl. Rising temperatures in the West have reduced high-altitude winter snowpack, which accounts for 80 percent of the region’s fresh water. Tree ring data, meanwhile, suggests the area is prone to epic water shortages, such as the six-decade megadrought from 1118 to 1179. While most scientists maintain that conservation and better water management could stopgap any shortages, “nobody has a crystal ball,” says Peter Gleick, Ph.D., president of the Pacific Institute. “I think climate change is going to make water availability worse, not better. It’s going to be hotter and drier, with more political conflict over resources.” Super Drought story here.

Things are not getting better and we are headed for some tribulation. My opinion is that we are all stewards of this earth, and we have been selfish, gluttonous ingrates who've squandered the gifts of this green Earth that God graciously gave us. This is not a red or blue issue, a right or left issue - it's a simple fact that we're using up resources faster than Mother Earth can maintain them. Dismiss it if you will, but you do so at the risk of peril to you and your loved ones. For years we have been warned and we continue to bury rivers, spill oil, pollute, plunder and play political Russian roulette with our children's futures.

This falls under Frank's Stoplight Theory. What's that? Let's say a road is constructed and there's an intersection. It's a busy road and getting through it is tough. People contact city hall and the road department and anyone who'll listen to ask for a stoplight. One day there's a horrible wreck and someone dies. THAT'S when the stoplight goes up. As humans we seem to have to be hanging from the cliff before we'll do anything about what got us there; the chances of getting things rectified at that point are very slim.

Recognizing Earth's condition is one instance where a stoplight might not be enough to stop the process. After all, the Pentagon says the next wars and conflicts will not be fought over land, but over resources. It's time to put healing the earth right at the top of your prayer list.

Stories and photos from National Geographic.