Musings

This fragile earth, our island home.

Rev. Peter Faass | 4/21/2010

April 22nd is officially designated as Earth Day this year. The website for Earth Day 2010 states that this day, "can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability."

The Bible addresses humanities responsibility for our good stewardship of the earth very early on. Theologically one could argue that Earth Day was created by God! In Genesis, God gives over the completed Creation to human care and declares its goodness. The understanding of course is that we have a religious, moral and ethical responsibility to take care of this good gift we have been given. The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP) also has several collects for the earth including one titled, "For Joy in God's Creation." And one of my favorite phrases in the BCP occurs in Eucharistic Prayer C, which speaks of, "this fragile earth, our island home."

The May edition of National Geographic has a cover article called, "Mount St. Helens: New Life in the Blast Zone." This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of that volcano erupting which resulted in the destruction of 200 square miles of forest and 57 human deaths and countless decimation of wildlife. The article examines how in the intervening years what was once annihilated is now teeming with new life. For instance fish now thrive in once toxic waters, and abundant flocks of elk roam newly lush fields and forests. The resurrection metaphor is a powerful one in this renewal of life after death story. In many respects while the earth is very fragile, it also has the capacity for miraculous healing of itself.

Is it coincidence that the thirtieth anniversary of Mount St. Helens erupting coincides with the eruption last week of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland? I don't know, but it provides us with a valuable lesson to examine these two events. While the Iceland volcano did not result in human causalities it certainly has caused havoc in the economies of most European nations. In six days the estimated loss from grounded air travel, tourism and agriculture is $1.5 billion dollars. This all has been lost due to the shut down of air traffic due to the volcanic ash that hovered in the air over most of the continent.

While the ash did not come west to the United States we Americans will surely see shortages of and increased pricing for European agricultural products and flowers. We import considerable amounts of produce, dairy and meat from Europe to feed our appetites. And 20 million flowers per day are flown out from Amsterdam to the world, mostly to North America. Maybe it is really we humans who are the truly fragile one's with the way we are so reliant, (demanding of?) items from far away lands to satiate our appetites and wants.

Local sustainability is, I think, key to the message of Earth Day. The future of the symbiotic and fragile relationship between humanity and the earth lies in local sustainability. It will lead to less stress on the Creation, better health for humans, animals and plant life, energy efficiency and just a better world; a world as God intended it to be. We at Christ Church are growing in that understanding of what it means to be good stewards of the good earth God has given us. Our on-going presence and support of the Shaker Square farmers market, promoting green theology and now our new Community Garden are all steps in that direction.

I pray you examine your own life and habits and begin to take on new, sustainable ways of living your life. One suggestion is to take on one of the plots available for you to grow produce, flowers and herbs in our new garden. Not only will you be healthier and happier, you will be living deeply into your faith.

Blessing for Earth Day!

Peter +

Home   News & Events   Ministries   Newcomers   About Us    Peter +

3445 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122   Phone: 216-991-3432   © 2010-2012 Christ Church