What's my part?

Dear Friends

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or your head is in the sand, you are likely aware that the climate and “this fragile earth, our island home” is front page, above the fold news right now. Without getting into the healthy debates about what can/needs to be done, I would just note that the picture above (I took it right outside our dining room window on this last Saturday of summer) sends us a message if we look closely and think.

This is the message I got this morning: The unopened buds tell me that there is still more beauty to come! As the great hymn attributed to St. Francis says, “Dear mother earth you day by day, unfold your blessings on our way…”

Nature is doing its part. What am I doing for my part?

A few million young people around the globe took to the streets yesterday to get our attention---they have most of their lives left to enjoy and care for God’s glorious creation. And so I have to ask myself, “What is my part?” and “What will I do?” with the time I have left.  At the least, beyond personal habits and choices, I would think it would be helpful to choose to support one of the many groups already working full time to address the challenges, and to elect leaders who are not cynical but take this issue seriously.

At the same time, all the time, may we thank God, enjoy and rejoice that Mother Nature is still doing her part…there are more buds and flowers to come! As the great poet/hymn writer Isaac Watts prays

Lord how thy wonders are displayed, wherever I turn my eye,

If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

John

P.S. The phrase "this fragile earth, our island home", as most of you know, comes from Eucharistic Prayer C in the Book of Common Prayer. Needless to say, it has taken on a deeper meaning since we've been living on this beautiful island!