In a recent edition of The Presbyterian Outlook, I came across a thought-provoking article, “Finding our Place in the Care of Creation,” by Jessica Hawkinson Dorow. Just where is the place that God intends for us?
“In the beginning, the book of Genesis tells us that God’s creation is good. Human beings are given responsibility over that good creation, in commands of having “dominion” and to “till and keep.” This stewardship of dominion and tilling does not permit a sort of “do what you want” kind of theology. Instead our place and relationship to creation is defined by the way were created. Created in God’s image (Genesis 1), our care for creation is to be modeled on the care that God has for creation; our care for creation must be always attentive to God’s creative goodness at work in the world, and our rootedness in the dust of creation itself.”
The parable of wheat and weeds is shared ( Matthew 13:24-30)
“We are appointed stewards of creation, and we are planted in God’s field. Always granted the capacity of good, nurturing wheat, we are also potential weed hazards. In an epoch defined by humanity’s imprint on the face of the planet, the risks of weediness are high. The science of ecology pulls the alarm and theology beckons over its sounding din. The reverberating tone of God’s goodness makes care for creation one of the most pressing issues of our time. It transcends borders and communities … wildfires on the West Coast of the Unites States impact communities threatened by the flames, but also contribute to the poor air quality and health of populations in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Rising waters around the world destroy homes on coastlines and small islands, but the cost of climate refugee resettlement has global reach. These are just some of the impacts of creation care (or lack thereof) on human beings, and the implications of failing to care for creation on diverse non-human ecosystems are countless.”
The thought of “finding our place” in earth care, is helpful as we think about what we can and should be doing as we face the challenges of changes to come. The author reminds us that God is in the world, creating and recreating and sustaining, and we are intended to be co-creators in every age.
I remember seeing “An Inconvenient Truth” years ago at the Sunrise Theatre in Southern Pines. This Oscar-winning 2006 documentary about the environment featured former presidential candidate Al Gore, who holds the film together as in front of an audience, and with few aids beyond photo slides, he explains how humans have messed up the planet. Gore issued an urgent warning on what must be done, and done quickly, to save the earth.
Fast forward 15 years, and I realize how little I’ve done to address the concerns presented. Hopefully, “finding my place in the care of creation” will move me to do what I can and encourage others to do the same.
Elizabeth
The back cover of The Presbyterian Outlook in recent weeks has reminded us again and again of some very important truths. With pictures of masked child care workers, food service workers and health care workers in one column and the heading “Poverty in America doesn’t look like what you think it looks like,” we are challenged to see things in new ways.
“Forget the stereotypes. Poverty is a lot more widespread than you probably thought. Especially since the pandemic. Poverty looks like the food service worker who can’t afford to put food on their own table. It looks like the health care worker who cannot afford their own prescriptions. Or the child care worker who can’t afford child care. Being poor in America is not just about a lack of money. It’s about working hard and still not having access to the basic things so many of us take for granted. Like a decent wage, housing, affordable medical care, educational opportunities, and so much more … In Matthew 25:31-46, the call is loud and clear: we must work boldly and strategically to eradicate systemic poverty in our communities and our country. We must work together to act on our beliefs to change laws, policies and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.”
In another article in the same issue, Diane Moffett challenges the church to “try to be as much like Jesus as we can” as Presbyterians work to discern a vision for the church in our day. These words are filled with new thoughts to guide in that process of discernment: “We cooperate with systems that create this disparity when all we do is simply feed the person … when we don’t ask what are the systems in place that are preventing the flourishing, the fullness of life, that Jesus talks about.”
There’s so much to think about and so many needs to be addressed – all at a time when our sense of community is fragile, and our ability and our willingness to work together is difficult. In Esther 4:14 we read the phrase “for such a time as this.” Queen Esther was called to accept the challenge “for such a time as this.” The phrase “for such a time as this” is for each of us as well. We are who we are, how we are and where we are - “for such a time as this.” May we be found faithful.
Elizabeth
Memories of 9/11 fill our hearts as we mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day. On that September morning, I was in a former church, preparing to host the monthly meeting of the County Minister’s Association. The organist’s daughter called telling us to turn on CNN, that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. Our secretary rushed to her home nearby to bring a small television set so we could watch the coverage in the office together. It was difficult to believe what we were seeing with our own eyes.
As the minutes passed and events unfolded, our meeting was postponed, and all our churches opened for prayer. Our church mission team was in Mexico, and when we heard the borders were closed, our hearts were filled with concern for their well-being and their safe return home. I remember the shock of seeing objects falling from the windows of the buildings, and the absolute heartbreak in realizing I was seeing desperate people jumping from the burning buildings.
I remember President Bush pausing in reading a book in a pre-school classroom, turning aside to hear the news and quickly excusing himself from this time with the children. I remember my four year old grandson looking up at a plane passing overhead that afternoon, and running in fear into his mother’s arms – something American children have never had to worry about. Our world would never be the same.
My personal world would never be the same, either. Early in the afternoon, my brother called to say our mother had died. She was to be released from the hospital the next day, and I was going to be with her as she regained strength at home. By the time I was off the phone, friends had been given the news and were waiting at home for me – even my former congregation had been called by our secretary. I faced the task of calling my children at college and planning our meeting and traveling together, to celebrate a life well-lived and close a chapter in all our lives.
In addition to my personal memories of the day, I watched many of the special programs from day to day last week, and remembered with others the events of those days. Former President George W. Bush commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on Saturday at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, recalling a time of American unity, drawing a sharp contrast with the present-day divisiveness of the country’s politics.
“For those too young to recall that clear September day, it is hard to describe the mix of feelings we experienced,” Mr. Bush said. “There was horror at the scale of destruction, and awe at the bravery and kindness that rose to meet it. There was shock at the audacity of evil, and gratitude for the heroism and decency that opposed it … the actions of an enemy revealed the spirit of a people, and we were proud of our wounded nation.”
Of all the words I heard or read in these days of remembering, his words spoke truth to my heart:
“Malign force seems at work in our common life that turns every disagreement into an argument, and ever argument into a class of cultures. So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear and resentment. That leaves us worried about our nation and our future together … I come without explanations or solutions …I can only tell you what I’ve seen. On America’s day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor’s hand and rally to the cause of one another. That is the America I know…. At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome of immigrants and refugees. That is the nation I know..….At a time when some viewed the rising generation as individualistic and decadent, I saw young people embrace an ethic of service and rise to selfless actions. That is the nation I know.”
I was struck by Mr. Bush’s warning against domestic extremism, saying that “the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within.” So very true.
Twenty years have passed. We remember, we reflect, we recognize how far we’ve come and how far we have to go to live up to the ideals on which our nation is founded, and we look forward to the coming of that day.
Elizabeth