To Strive to Safeguard the Integrity of Creation and Sustain and Renew the Life of the Earth
Let us pause, breathe, reflect, and live in ways which sustain and renew Creation, life. It starts with us.
–Evita Krislock
Pause? Seriously, who has time for one more task or activity, let alone time spent doing “nothing?” This may well be the infamous “straw that breaks the camel’s back.” There is too much to do with no time to lose. Breathe? Of course, we do it all the time, otherwise we wouldn’t be here. Reflect? Now we’ve gone too far. Seriously don’t tell me to think about my actions. These requests –pause, breathe, and reflect are all a call to action. This call is about life, life on earth, renewal, and growth.
Consider that pausing may, in fact, be our most productive time, a time to renew, to heal, and breathe. Slow deep breaths that fill each cell of our being with life-giving oxygen. Breathing in the good and exhaling the toxic. Each breath begins to clear our thoughts allowing new growth and energy to fill our brain, our heart, and soul. Of course, remember to breathe in the good, not the toxic.
Okay, we are pausing, breathing deep life-giving breaths, then clarity rears its head. “Forgive them Father for they know not what they have done.”
As a person of faith is this my burden, my responsibility? Simply put, yes.
Our Fifth Mark of Mission is about responsibility and action, just like each of the other Marks of Mission. After we take that deep breath, open our hearts and reflect, we see that the Marks fit together perfectly.
Each is important, each is life-giving. When we recognize creation is life in all of its glory and reality, it will not be denied. Life is interconnected, fitting together in a way that allows each of us, if we allow it, to fulfill, renew, and regenerate. When any part of creation suffers, the earth, water, air, plants, animals, fish, insects or people, we all suffer, if not today, then tomorrow and future generations.
Recognizing everything we do has an impact on life and creation empowers, invites, and challenges us. Each of us, without much effort can affect a single change in our life style that can and will support life. A single change, whatever it is, makes a difference; positive or negative. You make a difference, we make a difference collectively.
When we begin to think about actions in long term consequences, we change. Native wisdom often references the Seventh Generation, how we are merely a bridge between the past and the future. How will our actions impact our descendants? When our choices are no longer about an individual’s self-interest, perspective shifts. There are steps each of us can implement to reduce our consumption, in turn, lowering our waste. The first of the three R’s is a good start: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Consider adding another R: Repair. A simple thing we can all do is BYOWB–Bring Your Own Water Bottle to each meeting, outing or adventure. If you sit on another board, encourage others to do the same.
Commit to learning about actions we can take that will improve and support the regeneration of life, the environment, and all of creation. Spread the good news and let the light shine through you and your actions.