“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
-Romans 8:19-21
Tomorrow marks Earth Day which encourages us both celebrate the earth and focus on our calling to care for it. Growing up, I remember celebrating earth day in school. Two events stand out to me: doing garbage clean up at a local park, and one year, planting trees. Both of these activities have stayed with me over the years. At the time, the activities seemed insignificant but now they are memories that continue to remind me of how small acts of care can make a difference for the earth. A reminder that sometimes, I need as an adult. Over the years, I have come to view care for the earth as an act of faith. For me, I believe that we are called to care for God’s creation, as God cares for us, while also advocating for it. But as I said, sometimes I still need a reminder of the importance of small acts of care in the journey to creating change. Because as earth day approaches, I have a confession to make. I haven’t done well at caring for creation this past year. I have failed in stepping up my actions to create change and in my calling to advocate for the earth.. The truth is, the weight of the pandemic has meant that I’ve lost my focus on caring for creation. I’ve let myself give in to the idea that it’s “too hard” right now. Especially when re-usable bags and containers have been discouraged, and we’re using disposable face masks and other items more than ever. A part of me has felt, “why bother?” But as I look ahead to tomorrow, I hear God’s voice calling me back as I face my own regrets and guilt. Guilt over a recycling bin overflowing with unnecessary plastic and packaging. Guilt over the good habits I’ve abandoned. And regret because I’m no longer living out my calling to care for creation. Which is why this reading from Romans speaks to me today. The earth is in decay and crying out to be released. The slow death of the earth has not paused over this past year. The earth continues to suffer, as society continues to choose convenience and economic gain. And we forget, that when the earth suffers, we suffer, and God weeps. So what can we do about it? Speaking for myself, I am going to re-commit myself to caring for and speaking up for the earth. I am going to listen to the voice of Christ calling me back to the path I was once on, in the hopes that what I do will make a difference. I am going to start reducing my waste by choosing products with less or no packaging; I’m going to choose re-usable containers now that we can do so again; I”m going to look at re-using or re-purposing items before buying new. And I’m going to learn more about how I can use my voice to create change for the earth. So I encourage you to join me. Make your own commitment. Change one small habit. Learn something new about climate change or the environment. Speak out about an environmental concern you have. Join me in saying yes to Christ who calls us to love all creation in his name.
Devotional was written by Rev. Tara Ann Gourson, April 2021.
Bideford Pastoral Charge 