The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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Revd Judy Hill writes . . .Caring for God’s creation‘It’s not easy being green. Save today, save tomorrow.’ So the advert goes for one of the major energy companies. As Christians we do have a responsibility to care for our world, we can all play our part, we may not be able to do everything, but we can begin to make small changes. Is ‘being green’ not for you? Is it too much of a commitment, too hard and complicated? Life is already too busy. We are encouraged to generate our own power, recycle, eat less meat, change our light bulbs, turn the heating down, take a shower instead of a bath, insulate our homes, leave the car at home and walk, take holidays in the UK, buy local organic produce, the list is endless. It all seems too much. Living responsibly on the earth has parallels with our spiritual journey as Christians. We have made a commitment, but fail dismally every hour of every day to love God and others as we should. And in our industrialised 21st century overcrowded world, living in a way that does not damage the earth is virtually impossible. Our modern life style depends so much on fossil fuels that however much we try to reduce our energy use we will always contribute more than our fair share of carbon dioxide to the global commons. Doing without something for a reason other than financial goes against the grain in our modern, comfortable times of plenty. Why should we limit our desire for a bigger car, more and better possessions, more and further-flung holidays? Our waistlines tell us that there are consequences in eating more than we need, but the consequences in buying and driving and flying and using energy in our homes without limit will be seen by God and by our children, but not immediately by us. So, in this too, we fail dismally every day. However much we try not to, we are all contributing to the destruction of God's creation. God created one inhabitable world for us and we are currently living in a way that requires three worlds to absorb all the carbon dioxide that we are dumping into the atmosphere. And if everyone lived as we do (and why shouldn't they?) we would need 3.5 worlds. So what do we do? Do we give up following Jesus because we can't be perfect Christians? Do we give up trying to live in a way that cares for creation because we can't give up our cars or dish-washers? No! I believe that Jesus accepts us as we are and is pleased with our efforts however feeble to love others as ourselves and to care for his creation. And every time we fail to follow him, to love others, to live responsibly on the earth, we can turn to him in repentance, accept his boundless forgiveness, get up and start again! It's not always ‘all or nothing’. Sometimes it's good just to do something! |
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