Our relationship with Earth is not simply a physical one, it
is also spiritual. Wilderness Wind retreats, canoe trips, or
church and family gatherings offer opportunities to grow
spiritually and discover God’s life-giving spirit throughout the
natural world. The list below is flavored by the teachings of
wilderness reflection.
10 things you can do:
1. Travel at two miles per hour
and pay attention to God’s presence throughout. 2. Emulate an ecosystem. The natural world doesn’t
create waste. Work toward the same. 3. Be below average. The average American uses
twice as much water as a European. (Average use is 90
gallons/day/person – more than half is used in the bathroom). 4. Plant seeds. Nurture a garden or planter box.
Absorb the phenomena that all life is interconnected. 5. Experience yourself within an ever-unfolding
universe. Notice how small and yet how grand you are. 6. Rediscover the gift of trees. Reduce the flow of
junk mail and foster the forest’s growth. 7. Consider “you are what you eat”. Discover how
your food is grown/raised, where it comes from, the lives it
affects and make changes accordingly. 8. Invest in your neighborhood and community. Buy
from local producers. 9. Watch the sun rise or set. Appreciate and
maximize the gifts of natural lighting. (Lighting accounts for
15% of electricity use in homes). 10. Cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Offer it
frequently.
Demonstrating our Understanding and Commitment to Care of the Earth
The Bible offers us many images of
Earth and its importance in our lives. Jesus went to the wilderness to
pray, to listen to God and to gain insight for the journey. Jesus also
used Earth-based parables to speak of the kingdom of God (the mustard
seed, yeast, the man who sowed good seed - Matthew 13). Images of Earth
and its spiritual importance to us are throughout the Bible. The Bible
also calls us a relationship with Earth with a focus to care for
creation. Within the Confession of Faith is a compelling case for
creation care. Below are statements from the Confession of Faith that
interlink creation, peacemaking, stewardship, and Earth care. It is an
amazing list. We have a significant number of belief proclamations
related to the importance of care of Earth. How do we demonstrate a
proportional amount of action on this topic?
At Wilderness Wind we combine wilderness retreat and reflection with
active care for the Earth, which God has called forth and proclaimed
good.
