As I write this reflection in August, another heatwave is about to start. Although it may be great to feel the summer warmth on our bodies, the increasing trend towards hotter and drier weather is worrying. What does the future hold? Are we creating a world that will become increasingly difficult to adapt to and live in?
God taught us in the Bible that every part of His creation operates in cycles and rhythms. By respecting these cycles, we can live sustainably and appreciate the environment even more. Seasons change, and growth and harvest follow one another. When we align our lives with these natural cycles, we learn humility and develop a gratitude for the gifts we receive from God. This perspective fosters an understanding that we are part of a larger ecosystem, thus promoting a spirit of cooperation with all creation.
Yet, although we will shortly be celebrating Harvest in our churches (see poster in this edition of the Reporter), there is an increasing awareness that we want seasonal foods at all times of the year, not just in the Autumn. Harvest has been diminished by our greed for all things at all times. The result is the breakdown of seasonality, which has contributed to the changes in climate that we may temporarily be enjoying, but in the longer term will become a curse.
The psalmist tells us we have a responsibility to care for the Earth, as God’s stewards of all creation. Let us live up to that stewardship, caring for all creation and not just ourselves.
God bless,
Tim and Norma