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Thinking Out Loud

Taking Care of the Environment: Are We the Prodigal Sons and Daughters?

November 7, 2019 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

For those of us who love the outdoors, environmentalism is a big concern. Not just because we enjoy the wonders of creation, but because we want to preserve it for future generations also. And while it can be easy to take sides on how to deal with environmental issues – right or left, red state or blue state, liberal or conservative, use or preserve, perhaps there are some ways we can find common ground.

I subscribe to a daily newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation by Franciscan Richard Rohr. His focus for this year is Old and New. This week the messages are about Faith and Science. He suggests that by looking at the intersection of religion and reason we may find common ground to take better care of our common home. For example, Christians can look to the gospel story of the Prodigal Son. The son asks his father for his inheritance and then goes out and spends it all on food and drink and women. He ends up living in poverty. Finally he realizes his mistake, comes to his senses, and returns to his father. The father welcomes him back.

Richard Rohr writes:

I believe we have squandered our inheritance, which is the earth itself, the majesties and mysteries it holds. We’ve taken it for granted, using it too freely for our own selfish purposes while ignoring the deeply divine messages communicated in everything from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the largest black holes. Surely it is time for us to bring science and religion together.

It is an interesting take on a gospel story which is often more focused on personal failings. Perhaps by looking at environmental issues from a blending of science and religion we can find some common language to understand and discuss how to move forward. And how to return to a healthy relationship to Mother Earth.

Read the entire reflection on The Prodigal Species from the Center for Action and Contemplation.

Filed Under: Catholic Stuff, Outdoors, Thinking Out Loud

Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet,

October 31, 2019 by Empty Nester Leave a Comment

for tomorrow I may have to eat them.

Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them. - Author Unknown

I just brought in a bunch of vegetables from the garden. There is a hard freeze tonight. Some of these vegetables aren’t so tender and sweet, but we are going to eat them.

Along with cleaning out the garden comes other tasks which come with the cold weather, like winterizing the camper and pulling the morning glories off of the front porch. I already brought in the herb pots and put them in the basement.

And having seen some fighting and arguing on social media, along with people unfriending each other, it is good to remember that words matter also. It is so easy to hurt someone with a careless comment, and it might come back to you later. Choose your words carefully.

Filed Under: Gardening, Thinking Out Loud

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