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In 1852, Martha Jane Cannary, a.k.a., Calamity Jane, was born. When she was 14 years of age her mother died, and then just one year later her father passed away. Following his death, Calamity Jane found work as a scout at Fort Russell. She was well known for being a good shot and an outdoors adventurer. There are many speculations on how she got her nickname, none of which can be factually verified. However, one thing is certain: Calamity seemed to strike this western frontierswoman everywhere she went.
There is another famous individual that was known for his travels, as well as the calamity that followed him, albeit by his own volition. His name was Cain. He was the first child ever born. He undoubtedly grew up hearing his parents talk about the good old days in the Garden of Eden and how their disobedience to God resulted in their expulsion from that beautiful place (I would like to think that they instructed him in the ways of the Lord and admonished him not to make the same mistakes they had). He became a farmer. and his brother Abel labored as a shepherd (Gen 4:2). He and his brother were also worshipers of God, but unfortunately Cain’s worship was, unlike his brother’s, unacceptable (Gen. 4:3-5). Why? According to Sacred Scripture, Abel’s worship was done “by faith” (Heb. 11:4). And since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17), we can logically conclude that Cain’s worship was not offered according to God’s will. Soon thereafter, Cain went out and killed his brother (Gen 4:8-19). For his crime, God cursed Cain and drove him out from among His presence, as well as the presence of his family. He would forever reap what he had sown (Gen. 4:11-15; cf. Gal. 6:7-8).
Calamity Jane and Cain, while living centuries apart, had one thing in common: death and destruction seemed to follow them. Cain’s calamity, however, was self-inflicted! The Bible states, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain…” (Jude 11). May we restrain ourselves from following the ways of Cain. May we be obedient to God by worshiping Him in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) and by “loving one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). If we live our lives according to God’s will, calamity will evade us at journey’s end (2 Cor. 5:9- 10).
Terry R. Townsend