Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Ron's commitment to environmental issues moved to a new level today when he taught the Brittain Sunday School Class. I know that he was out of his comfort zone doing this. However, he is zealous about caring for God's creation and wants everyone to "reduce, reuse, recycle". He opened with the Native American Prayer found in the UM Hymnal (329).

O Great Spirit,
whose breath gives life to the world,
and whose voice is heard in the soft breeze:
We need your strength and wisdom.
Cause us to walk in beauty. Give us eyes
ever to behold the red and purple sunset.
Make us wise so that we may understand
what you have taught us.
Help us learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Make us always ready to come to you
with clean hands and steady eyes,
so when life fades, like the fading sunset,
our spirits may come to you without shame. Amen.

The CNN Earth Day quiz reminded the class of some of the issues that we are facing as we deplete our natural resources by conspicious consumption. Ex: Oil production has peaked in 15 of the 23 top oil producing countries.

Ron also said that we have lost a sense of awe in God's creation and that we have forgotten how to listen to nature. For instance, butterflies with their acute sensitivity to pesticides and toxins, their presence, diversity and relative abundance indicate the overall well-being of our ecosystems. His personal conviction of this has been strengthened by exploring our backyard through the lens of a camera. He has created a photo blog of his findings.

"The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." Psalm 24:1