We hear a lot in the media about climate change and the harm it inflicts on people, communities, and wildlife.  Finding ways to prevent and mitigate damage is a political, economic, and social challenge.  It’s also a challenge for people of faith.  As the church explains, “In Jesus, God so loved the whole world.  We follow Jesus, so we love the world God loves.”  We therefore should do what we can to heal the world when it is in pain.

Granted, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the huge scale of the problem.  However, as Christians we live in the hope that Jesus offers: “truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt 17:20)  We can do something — but when and how do we start?

The “when” can be during Lent.  As a season, Lent invites us to reflect on how we can live our faith more fully.  Living a more faith-centered life includes the way we engage with the world around us–God’s good creation.

As for the “how,” there’s a helpful set of suggestions in the Lenten Creation Care Calendar from a non-profit group, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.  The calendar provides one idea per day of Lent.  Some of the suggestions are specifically about faith, such as joining in a prayer for creation on Sundays.  Other ideas are practical, like taking mass transit instead of driving solo.  Not all will be relevant for everyone, and some may already be familiar habits, but they are all quite do-able.

 
The calendar is attached, and there will be paper copies available at church on Sundays.  May our Lenten journey be a blessing for “this fragile earth, our island home.”

This post was written by our Deacon in Training, Mary Cushing