The Lord God took the man
and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it.
Genesis 2:15 NIV
The chimes sound of beauty and creativity today, but also of warning and peril. What do you hear?
It’s not the responsibility of the UN, it’s personal
In the poetic language of the King James Version of the Bible we hear that “man” (you and me) is placed in the Garden to till it and keep it. The New International Version speaks of our working and caring for the Garden. Our Episcopal Great Thanksgiving Prayer C suggests “the Garden” is “this fragile earth, our island home.” (BCP, p. 370)
Many among us continue to deny that the climate is changing, and have no problem doing what they have always done. Others accept that the climate of the planet is changing, but leave the solutions to others. In our Anglican way, accepting the challenge of climate change and making the responses needed to “work and care for” the Garden—as our God calls us to do—is personal. It is my responsibility, it is my calling.
The wisdom of the Jewish Talmud, wisdom born long before the Episcopal Church, describes the attitude to be adopted by 21st century people of faith:
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justice, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it”
The promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant are personal. We do not speak for the President or the Congress; we do not speak on behalf of the United Nations; we make one promise after another to God and each other beginning with the words, “I will ….” I invite you, and pledge my own efforts, to do the small things in our daily lives that will together add up to something big as we work the Garden and care for the Garden, a divine blessing and responsibility given us at the beginning of time. ~dan
Links to online Advent Calendars
Each of these has a different approach. Find one that helps you “prepare the way.”
Trinity Wall Street Online Advent Calendar
Busted Halo Online Advent Calendar
This fragile earth …
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.
By your will they were created and have their being.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
From Eucharistic Prayer C in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 370
“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use our “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.
I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan
Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:
- Interfaith Power and Light — which seeks “to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. This campaign intends to protect the earth’s ecosystems, safeguard the health of all Creation, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.” (Interfaith Power and Light Mission Statement)
Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent
Image: tcktcktck on Facebook
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Hear what the Spirit is saying 