April 22 is Earth Day. Big deal, right? Teachers will read kids a book about recycling and a bunch of half-baked old hippies will roll around naked in a field of flowers somewhere. That's how a lot of folks, Christians included, probably feel about Earth Day. For some reason over the millenia we have lost touch with the fact that the earth is not just a way station on the way to heaven, but that the earth is the blessed creation of God and that we as fellow creations of God are both indebted to and connected to the earth as well as being stewards of it. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands," we read in Psalm 19.
Now I'm going to get a bit mystical here with you, but many believe that mysticism is where we eventually end up when we're honest with ourselves, with others, and with God in realizing that our lists of beliefs may look nice and tidy, but in thinking that we have things figured out we're just living in an illusion. Mysticism recognizes mystery and replaces head-knowledge with heart-knowledge. Knowing what we know now about the unfathomable age, beauty, delicacy, and even brutality of the earth, we Christians should think of Earth, not as our personal grocery store or slave, but as the womb in which we live. The image of the earth as womb has been incredibly transformative for me.
In the womb we are provided with what we need; we are so well taken care of that we float within the bodies of our mothers as we develop little by little. We don't float around in there thinking, "How can I get more from this umbilical cord? It's cramped in here; maybe we can add on a spare womb-room. Do you think I can bottle this fluid and sell it? No, we just are, and although we cannot see our mother we know she is there because we are inside of her and she has given us life. We don't know what she looks like or smells like. We have no idea what color her hair or eyes are. We don't know what shade her skin is. But we know she must be there, because we are here.
Eventually we are expelled from the womb through the dark birth canal and we come into the light and we inhale our first breath of air. Wow! Who knew all this was out there! In the womb we could hear the sounds outside but we had no idea how big and beautiful and musical it was out there. On earth we are in the womb and a healthy child does not disparage or reject the womb just because the child won't be there forever. No, the womb is the cradle of life as is the earth. When we exploit, destroy, disparage, ignore, or refuse to care for the earth, we are rejecting the womb in which we are being nurtured. The earth has been consecrated and sanctified by the incarnation--the coming of Jesus as "the Word made flesh." The Creator walked in the midst of the creation, came into the womb with us. Wow! That should blow our minds!
Seeing as I've probably either confused you or grossed you out, I will end now by simply sharing with you some of the most beautiful spiritual poetry ever to be written. If you're Christian faith includes an appreciation for, love of, and kinship with the rest of God's creation from the dog to the beetle to the rock to the sky, you should spend some time learning about St. Francis of Assisi. On this Earth Day, please enjoy his beautiful and poetic prayer and may it become your own.
"The Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon"
by St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord
through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
Amen and Amen. Happy Earth Day!
Pastor Everett
