I read some disturbing statistics this week.
It was after a quick trip to Whole Foods after a sixteen hour overnight shift at the hospital. I gathered my groceries, assembled a fresh treat from the salad bar, and as I passed the magazine rack on my way out I grabbed a copy of Atlanta Parent magazine (as I usually do). There was an article on the cover about kids and yoga that I wanted to read. As I flipped through the pages, I found a spread on The Plastic Problem. The gist of the article was on the massive amount of plastic waste and ways for each of us to decrease our contribution to the problem. That was enough – but the scope of the problem described put me over the edge. What are we doing to this world we’ve been gifted?
My morning walks have amplified my sense of overwhelm. On one hand, getting out in the air and seeing the new growth of spring clears my mind and makes me feel calm and grateful. I need that time outside! On the other hand, looking at the highly manicured lawns, the sprinklers watering the sidewalks and washing lawn chemicals into the sewer system, the birds and turtles striving to live on the edges of untouched wildness makes me feel sad. Hopeless. I know God gave the earth to us to “subdue” it, but I don’t think he meant for us to abuse it…
Sitting high in a tree near the little lake in my neighborhood…
That article woke me up. I’d done a bunch of things in the past to “green up” my home – changing my food storage from plastic to glass, eliminating artificial air fresheners, reduce/reuse/recycling, but I’ve gotten complacent. Comfortable. Unconscious – like I’d decided that I’ve done enough. You know, t’s not as if any one of us is destroying the earth on purpose – it’s almost as if we don’t realize what we’re doing. It’s like my kids moving through the house like a hurricane with gale force winds. They don’t mean for our home to be a crazy-making mess instead of a peaceful, orderly, welcoming space – they just don’t know any better. My job is to help them become aware of their surroundings and impact on them, set a standard for order, and train them to keep it. But who is helping us to keep the standard of our environmental stewardship? The EPA? FEMA? The USDA?
No, I don’t think so. I’m sure there are lots of individuals working in these organizations who are trying very hard to protect our natural resources and do what’s best, but the financial influences of special interest groups are too powerful to keep these agencies pure. We’re on our own. I absolutely believe that government can and should be protecting natural resources above the interests of corporations and individuals, but we are going to have to demand it. Right now, I’m not sure enough of us are alarmed enough to do it. But we are going to have to get there, and quickly. With spring coming earlier each year, massive increases in pollen counts, rising water levels and global temperature increases, time grows short for us to act. Global environmental change used to be a conversation of the fringe – now it’s in the mainstream media and political conversation. Scientists have been sounding alarms for decades, and now they’re saying that global warming may be approaching a point of no return. It’s enough to make us throw up our hands and give up! But then I think about my children and what this may mean for them, and I know I can’t do that.
So what do we do? I think we start by becoming aware. Before you think I’m suggesting some heavy duty research you don’t have time for, I’m not. There are a few easy things you can do – and then other things will spring from those.
Get outside.
We spend most of our time in our climate controlled homes, cars and offices. Getting outside in the early morning for my walks has helped me! Try taking a short walk after dinner. Step outside your door and look up at the moon (did you know we just had a full moon?). Wander your neighborhood and look at the trees and flowers. Just get out there and notice.
This is the view standing under a magnolia tree. The underside of the leaves are soft and fuzzy!
Look up.
When’s the last time you watched the clouds move across the sky? Or seen the night sky and the magnificence of the stars and moon? Spending a few minutes looking up will remind you of the spectacular space we occupy.
Think and pray.
What can you do to help? Can you carry a stainless bottle of water instead of buying plastic bottled water? You know, most bottled water is really just tap water anyway. What about remembering your reusable bags at the grocery store? I started leaving a bag of them in my car for any trips I make for groceries. Can you throw that lipstick you just picked up at the makeup counter in your purse instead of taking their bag? What about reusing the bags you do take? Here’s another idea : Put a second trash can next to your regular one for recycling. It helps in our house! Whatever comes to mind, you can add to your life, one thing at a time.
Educate yourself.
There are lots of great books out there to help you learn what’s happening in our environment. My current favorite is For The Beauty of The Earth, A Christian Vision for Creation Care by Steven Bouma-Prediger. It’s definitely a high call, but not more than I think God asks of us. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver is a fascinating look at living closer to the land than we are used to – it’ll make you rethink what seems normal in society these days. The End of Night by Paul Bogard talks about our influence and impact on the natural world with artificial light, why we should care, and ways we individually and collectively can and are changing that impact for the better.
Be encouraged – we can take care of our world! It’s our gift and we have what we need to honor it!
My favorite flower!
What ideas do you have about how to care for our world? Let’s help each other think of ways to help and post in the comments below!