I write this letter as an apology. I have not always been a good steward of your precious commodities. I grew up thinking fun was to be had indoors, I now see how clinical that was. I thought it was normal to learn to drive and purchase a car, I now see that we should stand against norms and question why. I believed that a clean home was one that was cleaned with chemicals which promised to bust those germs, I now see how just how wrong I was.
*
I wanted a life filled with conveniences like tumble dryers, new houses with modern appliances and superstores. Now I wonder about whether we are convenient to you? Us people creating smog and pollution throughout lands.
I prayed as a Christian for those facing famine, disease, abuse & strife. But how many days, weeks & months did I forget to pray that we’d take better care of you?
I thought nothing of buying newspapers, books and disposable products. Without thinking of alternatives and how my decisions effected the innocent.
I fretted over money, I bought too much, I thought happiness came from things and then one day through a lot of prayer I found something so much more, the simple happiness truly found from finding love, memories & wisdom from something so much greater and yet so simple.
Lord, help me to remember this precious earth, not only each & every day but in each & every action. Help me to remember the earth when I go to put on the TV, when I get into my car & when I plan each holiday. Help me to remember there is nothing more simple and joyous then time spent walking through a field, strolling along a beach or observing animals in their natural environment. Just as happiness can’t not be bought, neither can simplicity, neither can our earth. My earth isn’t for sale, it isn’t something I can buy through SUV’s, houses & shops. My earth isn’t man made. How about yours?
* I purposely didn’t crop the picture of the boat out of this picture I took in Padstow. As a kid, I spent a lot of time on motor boats, now all I can think of is the fish & life under the water. The photo represents a change in me. Maybe this year it might represent a change in you too.
Watch this. Be inspired. Go and find the real earth.
What a beautiful post. Living in an apartment in an urban environment it can sometimes be hard to remember the natural beauty of the earth and to take time to appreciate it and remember to care for it.
But it’s something that my partner and I have been working towards, an ongoing process.
What a lovely post. May I use your prayer in one of our assemblies?
A very nice post for Earth Day. Love the pics you have been posting. It’s daily therapy.
You are right… that our modern conveinences are an inconveinence to our earth. That is why I am slowly moving back to nature.
Happy Earth Day!
Lynn
Yes of course you may, thank you for asking! What a lovely school you have. I used to do some work with “healthy schools” so have a special place in my heart for innovative & holistic schooling environments.
Looby – oh I can so relate. While I love many of the sites in London, it was the reason I had to get out.
Well done you Money Funk! Thanks for the kind comment. The photos are like daily therapy for me too ;0)
I truly loved your post. It captured what I have been thinking, how much we take life for granted on this big blue boat that spins through space.
CLM
Great photos as always; the view through the stand of pines is absolutely exquisite! Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely brilliant photos, thank you for sharing them with us
Beautiful post!
Yesterday I bought my 3 yr old son a childrens book all about Earth Day and how we can help the Earth.
This morning I told my son I had a present for him and he was very excited. he loves books and really enjoyed the story and learning.
We then went though the house talking about what we can do to help save water & energy.
After we were done, I sat down to read the newspaper and turned a lamp on. My son said “Save power Mommy!”.
It’s was so precious! I’m proud of my little “greenie”.
beautiful words.
What a beautiful prayer. So lovely to read this today.
Beautiful!
Some very good points there – we do all often forget that we are indeed stewards of the Earth.
The three most important things we need to do to help protect our precious planet are:
- not having more than 2 children
- not flying ever
- cutting car use to an absolute minimum (ie no getting in a car for journeys of less than 2 miles – unless literally not healthy enough to walk or bicycle that distance and no public transport available).
These are the 3 “biggies” and I think – provided people stick to those 3 things (oh – and, of course, if they own a house: not selling any of the garden for “development”) then they are doing pretty okay and helping to protect the Planet a LOT more than just buying a few so-called Eco Light Bulbs (complete with the mercury that is a constituent part of most of them still).
Well spoken!