As temperatures in Charlotte hit the mid-90s last week, our upstairs air conditioning unit broke down in the middle of the night. A check of the outside circuit breakers revealed an unpleasant surprise in the breaker box: the dried-up body of a small anole lizard.
This little fellow must have climbed in through a small opening in the breaker box at some point, hoping to find relief from the sweltering heat. But instead of basking in comfortable shade, he found himself trapped in a metal box that became a brutal oven in the midday sun. With no food or water available, he slowly baked to death.
My wife and I were saddened to think of the slow, agonizing death this little tree lizard must have endured.
As I contemplated his shriveled body, I thought of the families in war zones who are facing a similar cruel fate. Forced to flee their homes to escape bombing and shelling, these war refugees struggle through record-breaking heat as they huddle outside each day without food, water or shelter. One heartbreaking photo showed a dying child being held by his mother, his skin barely covering his protruding ribs.
What can we say when faced with horrors like this? What can we do to alleviate the suffering?
Our air conditioner was repaired quickly and we had cool air running again within hours. Unfortunately, the problems of the world can't be fixed so easily.
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