“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2
The season of Advent began yesterday. Over the next few weeks Christians will be preparing for the celebration of Christmas. Advent is a time of waiting and eager anticipation. It seems to me that the natural year offers us a helping hand for Advent. This is the time of year when the nights are long. Many people find the long nights disconcerting. It doesn’t seem right for it to be getting dark when it’s barely 4:00 p.m. Some folks even experience depression as a result of the longer nights. That’s understandable. As a general rule, we long for light.
Right now a lot of us are longing for longer days. Those days of extended light will soon be here. After December 21 the time of daylight will begin to lengthen. At the winter solstice we celebrate that the darkness does not prevail. That is a theme of Advent as well. The darkness that prevails in the world right now will not last forever. A better day is coming, a day characterized by light.
The prophet Isaiah lived in a time of spiritual darkness and prophesied that “a great light” would dawn upon the people. Christians believe that he spoke of the coming Messiah and that his words were fulfilled with the birth of Jesus. It was a bright light in the sky that led the Wise Men or Magi to the Christ child. Later Jesus would identify himself as the “light of the world.” The author of the Fourth Gospel declared “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)
I am thankful that God’s Light was revealed to us in such a marvelous way that first Christmas. Over the years that Light has brought me much comfort and joy. It has also brought me a great deal of hope. I look forward to the day when that Light will be made manifest in all his glory. In the meantime we will have to endure periods of darkness and do all we can to share the light of Christ with others. How encouraging it is to know that sooner or later brighter days will come. The Light will, in fact, prevail over the darkness. Our Advent hope will be fulfilled.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…” Revelation 21:1
Recently I read N. T. Wright’s book, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. It was a challenging read in more ways than one. Wright, one of the world’s top biblical scholars, calls into question many longstanding beliefs about life after death. He argues that not enough attention has been given to the New Testament teaching that there will be a new earth one day and that believers will reside there. Heaven and earth are joined together when believers experience their bodily resurrection.
Wright’s beliefs cause him to give the earth a greater role in eschatology (the doctrine of last things) than you typically find. They also help make a strong case for environmental responsibility. Pointing to Paul’s words in Romans 8 where it says the whole creation is waiting with “eager longing” not just for its own redemption, its liberation from corruption and decay, but for God’s children to be revealed, Wright says this includes “the unveiling of those redeemed humans through whose stewardship creation will at last be brought back into that wise order for which it was made. And since Paul makes it quite clear that those who believe in Jesus Christ…are already God’s children, are already themselves saved, this stewardship cannot be something to be postponed for the ultimate future. It must begin here and now.” This, he says elsewhere, is in part implied when Christians pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Wright adds, “God’s recreation of his wonderful world, which began with the resurrection of Jesus and continues mysteriously as God’s people live in the risen Christ and in the power of his Spirit, means that what we do in Christ and by the Spirit in the present is not wasted. It will last all the way into God’s new world. In fact, it will be enhanced there.”
If we accept the fact that the earth plays a vital role in the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God, it reminds us that the world we live in is very important to God and should be important to us. This affects how we live in and treat the world. Wright says “people who believe in the resurrection, in God making a whole new world in which everything will be set right at last, are unstoppably motivated to work for that new world in the present.” It would seem that we may well play a role in God ushering in the “new earth.” Wright goes on to say, “If it is true, as I have argued, that the whole world is now God’s holy land, we must not rest as long as that land is spoiled and defaced. This is not an extra to the church’s mission. It is central.”
I have long believed that environmental stewardship is a responsibility to be shared by all people of faith. I found biblical basis for this primarily in the Book of Genesis. It was not until reading N. T. Wright’s book that I saw God’s plan for the earth at the end of things as an additional source of motivation for caring for this planet. One day we will reside on a “new earth.” God will transform the earth so that we might abide here forever. If Wright is correct, God’s plan for that transformation may well include us here and now. Although it is hard for me to wrap my mind around this concept, I find it truly exciting. What do you think?
In a very short period of time our whole world has changed. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly altered our daily lives. We now find ourselves in survival mode. We have been forced to take drastic actions just to stay safe. I hope that you are doing what is necessary to avoid the virus. Washing one’s hands, practicing social distancing and self-quarantining should go a long way in helping one to stay safe. Our goal, however, should not just be staying safe; we should strive for wellness too. Our mental, emotional and spiritual health are just as important as physical health. I hope you are doing what is needed to stay healthy in each of these areas.
For a lot of us getting outdoors and experiencing the beauty and wonders of God’s Creation plays an instrumental role in maintaining holistic health. A couple of weeks ago I did a photo trip to the Everglades and this did wonders for my health. I’m glad I got to go when I did as many national and state parks are now closing as a result of the coronavirus crisis. It may be a while before we are able to find refuge and solace in these places once again.
What are we to do in the meantime? This is a great time to start paying more attention to what we have right around us. From our own yards and neighborhoods we can still observe the sun and moon, the clouds overhead, the birds flying around, the trees budding and the flowers blooming. What we find close to home might not be as dramatic or beautiful as what we find in national and state parks but there is still so much to see, hear, smell and touch. My friend, Rob Sheppard, is currently in the midst of a project where he is using his iPhone to record a picture each day of some natural wonder around him. Even though he is not able to go far right now, he’s still producing beautiful images of nature and posting them daily on Facebook. I think that’s a wonderful idea.
As I continue to take walks in my neighborhood I’m trying to pay closer attention to the natural world around me. Doing so is good for my mental and emotional health. It is also good for my spiritual health. I’m currently reading Richard Rohr’s book, The Universal Christ. Throughout the book are reminders that God reveals Himself through the natural world. At one point he writes, “When you look your dog in the face…I truly believe you are seeing another incarnation of the Divine Presence, the Christ. When you look at any other person, a flower, a honeybee, a mountain—anything—you are seeing the incarnation of God’s love for you and the universe you call home.” Who among us does not need to experience an “incarnation of God’s love” at this time? Well, the truth of the matter is such incarnations are all around us. I urge you to look for them and to find comfort in them. Doing so may just be what we need to get through these trying times.
2017 will not be remembered as a great year for environmental causes, at least not here in America. Many laws that protect our land, water and air were weakened. Laws protecting wildlife were also made less binding. Responding to Global Warming ceased to be a concern of our government. Lands that had been set aside as wilderness or parklands were taken back. All of these actions, and others that could be noted, have caused me to become quite discouraged. As someone who believes we have a divine mandate to care for the earth and its resources, I find it hard to accept what all has happened in the past year. I can’t help but believe that God is disappointed as well.
I am frustrated by our government’s attack on the environment but I am not ready to throw in the towel. There are signs of hope. Perhaps one of the greatest signs of hope is that other nations are refusing to follow our lead. Even in our own country there are many local leaders who are resisting the anti-environment movement. I also happen to believe that there are lots and lots of ordinary citizens who still care about the health of the earth. And, yes, I want to believe that there are plenty of Christians who continue to affirm that Creation Care is a moral obligation. Governments can change laws but they cannot necessarily change people. Ordinary folks have great power. I love Margaret Mead’s quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
I suspect many of you will be making New Year resolutions as the New Year is ushered in later this evening. I hope that you will resolve to continue to make Creation Care a priority in the year to come. Resolve to let your legislators know this is important to you. Resolve to do the simple things you can do in your own home and workplace to make a difference. Resolve to support organizations that fight for the environment. Resolve to enjoy God’s Creation to its fullest and to learn the lessons God has to teach through it. Resolve to be a steward of God’s good earth.
Here’s to hoping that 2018 will be a better year.
–Chuck
(I took the pictures shown above on a recent trip to New Mexico.)
The much heralded total eclipse of the sun has now come and gone. Did you see it? I’ve heard some people share what an amazing experience it was. I’ve heard others speak about how disappointing it was. Some confessed to me they never looked out that day, they just watched it all on television. I watched the eclipse from our church’s playground. Thankfully I had a pair of safe glasses to use to watch the moon cover the sun to varying degrees. When the moon almost covered the sun the streetlights around the church came on and the crickets began to chirp. The quality of the light definitely changed making it a surreal moment. Here in Henderson the moon covered 99.4% of the sun. I thought that would surely be close enough to a total eclipse that I could take some photographs. But I was wrong. Even at the peak moment there was too much light for me to risk taking a picture. If I had purchased a solar filter I could have done so but, once again, I was convinced we would be close enough to a total eclipse that I wouldn’t need one. Oh well, live and learn.
I did learn an important truth on Monday, one that concerns the spiritual life. I learned that it doesn’t take a whole lot of light to make a big difference. Even when only .6% of the sun was visible it was still bright, so bright I had to have my solar glasses to look at it. Here we should all be reminded that Jesus, who was himself the “Light of the world,” has called each of us to be “the light of the world” also. The Bible says we are to let the light of God shine through us before others. Why is this important? The answer is pretty obvious, isn’t it? Because there is so much darkness in the world. There is so much hatred, ugliness and division. Racism and injustice are prevalent. Greed, lust, and anger continue to dominate the scene. Wars and rumors of war are in the news daily. The amount of darkness in the world is staggering, so much so that we may wonder if there is any hope for the world. But there is hope. Darkness can be defeated. It doesn’t take a lot of light to dispel the darkness. That’s why it’s so important that we let our light shine. I may not be but a single light but I can make a difference. My church may not be a large church but if we shine together it can make a huge difference in our community and beyond. John 1:5 says “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” I hope we will all do our part to make sure that God’s light continues to shine in and through us. I hope we will do our part to dispel all the darkness we can. For God’s sake, and that of others, let your light shine!
I have to admit I’m quite concerned. As someone who strongly believes that faith in God mandates the preservation and care of the earth, I am fearful where our country seems to be heading. The next president’s choices for people to lead influential positions like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Department, and the Interior Department does not bode well for the care of the earth. I am trying hard not to be despondent about this but at the same time I am finding very little cause for optimism. My primary hope is that people like you will care enough to fight those changes that will prove detrimental to God’s Creation. Many see this as an economic battle, and it certainly is in part, but I believe it is also a spiritual battle. We cannot claim to love God and at the same time not care what happens to that which God has created. Nor can we afford to forget how closely God is tied to Creation.
In her book, Grounded, Diana Butler Bass says “God is the ground, the grounding, that which grounds us. We experience this when we understand that soil is holy, water gives life, the sky opens the imagination, our roots matter, home is a divine place, and our lives are linked with our neighbors’ and with those around the globe. This world, not heaven, is the sacred stage of our times.” Bass goes on to say, “We are powerfully connected to the ground, and the soil is intimately related to how we understand and celebrate God. The late Irish Catholic priest and philosopher John O’Donohue called the land ‘the firstborn of creation’ and the ‘condition of the possibility of everything.’ The earth itself, he insisted, holds the memory of the beginning of all things, the memory of God. When Sallie McFague offers the metaphor of ‘body’ to describe the relationship between the God and the world, she is reminding us of both scientific truth and a sacred mystery. ‘What if,’ she asks, ‘we saw the earth as part of the body of God, not as separate from God (who dwells elsewhere), but as the visible reality of the invisible God?'”
If the earth is to be preserved, and our health with it, then there must be a transformation in our understanding of the earth. The planet cannot be viewed primarily as a resource for private and corporate development. Its sacredness must be maintained and our role as stewards of it preserved.
I fear that most Americans do not have a theological understanding of the earth or fully understand how Creation interacts with and points to the Creator. It will be imperative in the next few years that people of faith who do understand the connection between God and Creation share that understanding with others. The connection between God and Creation is clear in the Scriptures. Now it must become clear among the populace. Will that be enough to make a difference? One can only hope and pray it will.
–Chuck
(I took the pictures shown above in Kentucky, Indiana, and California.)
