Creation Care

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

You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. - Psalm 56:8

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1).  As news of COVID-19 dominates not only our news cycles but also our hearts and minds, these words from the psalmist remind us of our continued trust in our Creator. With this in mind, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day today with a renewed sense of hope, that indeed, our earth and creation will one day be restored and reconciled with our Creator.

His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. - Psalm 91 (The Message) 

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.

Christians talk about our calling to be "good stewards of God's creation," but often we don't carry that commitment into the details of political policies. In today's world, there are urgent matters that demand our active stewardship.

Lent comes to us providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.  - Pope Francis