Climate Change

Be still my soul. The Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide in every change he faithful will remain. - Kathrina von Schlegel

It is the first week of August, and the high summer heat of treaty 6 territory in northern Alberta is beaming through my window.  I am thinking about the fall.  I work with university students, and I am wondering how my students and I can think together about all that has happened since we’ve last been together, in March: a global pandemic that has thrown everyone’s lives – and particularly the lives of those on the margins – off-kilter, an inspiring movement for racial justice that prompted many difficult and potentially transformative conversations, record-breaking temperatures

"Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it." - Ezra 10:4 

I spend some of my time volunteering with the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue doing advocacy in creation care, and with this call comes some strange experiences. A few months back I had a discussion with a friend (who has no relationship to the church), and I mentioned my “hobby”. Though she was impressed with our efforts, she was also perplexed by my motivation. She explained that in her experience, Christian faith is fundamentally about human salvation, and that it is hard to see how this motivates change.

Jesus in your name we pray, come and fill our hearts today.  Lord give us strength to live for you and glorify your name.  - Paul Baloche

So take all that I dream
Take all that I plan
You you hold all my days
There within Your hands

- Christy Nockels 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, gardening is the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to creation care. With the whole world turning upside down because of COVID-19 many have become acutely aware of what gardeners have known for ages…  Gardening helps you join with God in providing for yourself, caring for creation and for your neighbour, reducing waste, staying healthy physically and mentally and provides endless metaphors for the spiritual life.

In Canada, we tend to mark the beginning of good weather with the May long weekend. The long weekend usually sparks visions of opening cottages with extended family, seeing friends, or the first warm weather festivals. In most Canadian provinces in 2020 however, we are still practicing strict social distancing and many of us did not enjoy our usual May long weekend.

Welcome to the Throne Room, welcome to the place where He shows His face. Oh, worship in spirit and in truth.  Welcome to the Throne Room.  - CeCe Winans

I am a climate career professional - someone who works on climate advocacy and climate justice as a job, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. It is my dream job. As part of my job, I work on mobilizing Christians to take faithful action in the public sphere in response to the climate crisis through storytelling, resourcing, opportunities to petition legislators on specific bills, and non-violent direct action. Almost every time I’m invited to speak on climate change, the question of how to stay hopeful emerges.