From My Nature Journal: “Behold the Earth” -- A Review

Time for a blog shout-out to a new resource brought to my attention by a new friend here in our new digs. Sorry, that’s a lot of new, but the issue the resource presents goes back to the beginning. The very beginning. As in, the Garden of Eden beginning.

Namely, it's a simple video resource/documentary released recently called Behold the Earth. BtE is a music-rich film that explores the subject of earth stewardship/creation care as a critically important spiritual practice for all people of faith, and asks tough questions about church engagement with environmental issues.

Do you think of earth care as one of the core issues of Christian discipleship? Many church-goers do not, and, I'm very sorry to say, perhaps particularly us evangelicals. I cannot begin to count the number of times people have expressed their surprise to me in meeting an evangelical concerned with creation care. What a sad reality. And I'm not sure what the deal is here. Is it some evangelicals' sole preoccupation with personal salvation, or at least that perception from others? Is it poor exegesis on our part with Jesus' admonition to 'love not the world' (1 John 2:15), which isn't referencing creation care at all? Is it the evangelical error of equating the issue with 'liberalism' (whatever that is)? Or do we limit the stewardship idea to the traditional mantra of time, talent and treasure? If so, then I'm flummoxed: if God's creation is not also treasure to us, I'm not certain what is. Of all people, evangelicals, as 'people of the whole book,' should be at the forefront of the issue.

How is it that we forget that the charge to steward creation is the very first commandment in the Bible? Yup, Genesis 1:25 and 2:15. And don't get hung up here on the words dominion and subdue; the words are far richer and more complex than appear on the surface, surprisingly so if we truly get into them. But I'll write on that another time.

OK, end of sermon. Sorry. I am likely preaching to the choir. Let me highlight the resource.

Set with lovely videography and provocative music, Behold the Earth features conversations with legendary biologists Edward O. Wilson, Theo Colburn and Calvin DeWitt, interspersed with the perspectives of emerging leaders Katherine Hayhoe and Corina Newsome, and founder of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action Ben Lowe. Yet this is no talking head documentary. In addition to the stunning video, it is full of fabulous Appalachian-style folk music, a pleasure to listen to in its own right, featuring Grammy winners and musicologists Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, and Tim Eriksen. Extensive music is interwoven in such a way as to give the viewer a contemplative opportunity to reflect on the verbal material just presented, and, if you're like me, in addition to the subject matter, the music is the thing you will remember long after the documentary has finished, and may be the thing you want to come back to again and again. It has certainly spurred my interest in these artists.

One final thing. I've gotten involved here in our new Washington community with a cooperative of churches called Greening Congregations Collaborative. It consists of members from numerous area churches who want to bring a greater awareness of earth stewardship to their congregations by creating and sponsoring cooperative events, initiatives and presentations that highlight creation care as a critical part of Christian discipleship. Does your church have such a committee or team, even a small group of people interested in championing this concern in your church fellowship? This simple, one-hour movie can provide you a quality way to introduce this subject to your church leadership and your friends. It's not intended to resource those of you who are already advocating for this issue in your sphere, though it can inspire you, as it has me; it's intended to touch those who may not yet be there, and is a great discussion starter. Here's the trailer.

~~ RGM, May 31 2019

Blowin' in the Wind: Pope Francis and Laudato Si'

(Blowin’ in the Wind is a regular feature on my blog consisting of an assortment of nature writings – hymns, songs, excerpts, prayers, Bible readings, poems or other things – pieces I may not have written but that inspire me or have given me joy. I trust they will do the same for you.)

Many of you have paid attention to the news this week and have read or heard of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Papal Encyclical on the environment. It is a landmark document, long awaited not only by the church but also by all who love God’s creation. Indeed, it is addressed to ‘every living person on this planet;’ How’s that for an audience? I guess a pope can do that.

Here’s something the New Zealand Herald said about it:

While the encyclical will influence the political debate, its most powerful impact could come in its instruction to the world's 1.2 billion Catholics through an "ecological conversion", transforming their own lifestyles to cut waste and end the "throwaway culture…” If taken as seriously as previous encyclicals, such as Humanae Vitae of 1968 which prohibited artificial birth control, it would mean millions of families committing themselves to cooking less food to avoid waste, switching off lights and recycling.

"Nobody is suggesting a return to the Stone Age, but we do need to slow down and look at reality in a different way, to appropriate the positive and sustainable progress which has been made, but also to recover the values and the great goals swept away by our unrestrained delusions of grandeur," the Pope said.

These can only be good developments.

I love the title, Laudato Si’, Latin for “Praise Be to You.” Subtitled “On the Care for Our Common Home,” the main title is taken from the first words of St. Francis’ great 13^th Century hymn of praise for creation, Canticle of the Sun, about which I wrote in one of my earlier blogposts nearly two years ago. (I also wrote elsewhere on the hymn based upon St. Francis’ Canticle, All Creatures of Our God and King.) I find it lovely that the Pope chose to honor his namesake in this way.

  

Though the focus for my blog is going to be Pope Francis’ prayer included in the encyclical, here are several of the document’s key points:

- Christians have misinterpreted Scripture and "...must forcefully reject the notion that our being created in God's image and given dominion over the earth justifies absolute domination over other creatures."

- The international community has not acted enough: "Recent World Summits on the environment have not lived up to expectations because, due to lack of political will, they were unable to reach truly meaningful and effective global agreements on the environment." He writes, "The Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics. But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good."

- But individuals must also act. "An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness."

- Technocratic domination leads to the destruction of nature and the exploitation of people, and "...by itself the market cannot guarantee integral human development and social inclusion."

- Finally, by the way, what is one of the main tasks we have on earth, "...but to be stewards of God's creation?"

The Pope ended the document with a prayer for our Earth that he has asked Christians and others around the world to pray, one that connects faith with nature. (What a concept!) Will you join me in praying this?

High Lord, Who art present in the whole universe

and in the smallest among your creatures,

You who envelop with Your tenderness everything which exists:

You pour into us the strength of Your love,

So that we can take care of life and beauty.

Flood us with peace, so that we may live like brothers

and sisters without harming anyone.

Father of the poor, help us deliver the abandoned and the

forgotten of this earth that mean so much to you.

Restore our life, so that we may protect the world,

not so that we may plunder it,

so that we seed beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts of those that only look for advantages

at the expense of the poor and of the earth.

Teach us to discover the value of everything, to contemplate

with wonder, to recognize our being deeply united with all

creatures on our path toward your infinite light.

Thanks for being with us every day.

Please support us in our fight for justice, love and peace. Amen.

Amen and amen.

~~RGM, June 19 2015