Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/596712
November/December 2015 39 W hen priest and theolo- gian Richard Rohr first joined the Franciscans, he learned the order's teaching that no tree could be cut down with- out very good reason. At first, he thought this seemed a little extreme. Then he realized that this teaching honors the Fran- ciscan founder, Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecol- ogy and creation care. 1 I thought about these teach- ings recently when our family went apple picking with friends. It was an exquisite fall day— bright sun, not a cloud in the sky, trees filled with bright red or yellow apples, the orchard surrounded by large trees in vivid shades of red, orange and gold. The children (and some of the adults) chased each other through the rows of trees and climbed sturdy branches to pick the best-looking apples. We came home laden with apples and dreaming of apple pie, apple crisp and applesauce. But even more, we returned home energized and restored by our time together in the natural world—even though the orchard was just half an hour from our home in an inner suburb of Cleveland. Decades of research has proven the physical, mental and spiritual health benefits of human beings spending time in and among and with God's creation. Creation speaks to us in ways no human-made thing can. Perhaps this explains why so many people say they'd rather worship God on a beach or a hik- ing trail than in church. Creation has a way of reminding us of our place in the world. When we look at the natural world—with God's fingerprints all over it—our relation- ship with God changes. In addition to our insignificance in the scope of cre- ation, we discover our deepest purpose and vocation: we are partners with God. God has trusted us—us!—to care for this world and its creatures. Richard Rohr writes that "Lovers do not know full happiness until they delight in the same thing, like new par- ents with the ecstasy of their first child." 2 God invites all humanity into such a shared purpose—caring for God's creation. In order for future generations to accept and bear this responsibility, we must give our children oppor- tunities to immerse themselves in nature, to experience God's presence in the natural world. In our communities of faith, this can be done in the simplest ways—bringing in seasonal elements from nature for decorations in worship or education classes; giving chil- dren the opportunity to grow flowers or vegetables at church; going outside the church, whether the church is rural or urban or something in between, to look for evidence of God and talk about God's presence in all things. Nature has a unique ability to awaken in us a sense of won- der and awe. To nurture this appreciation for creation in our children is perhaps the best way to inspire them to care for it, so that we may all join with the psalmist in proclaiming, not just in word but in deed: "The earth is the L ORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live it" (Ps. 24:1). Amy Starr Redwine is pastor of the Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, Ohio. She lives with her husband and three children. Notes 1. Richard Rohr, Yes, and . . . Daily Meditations (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2013), 134–135. 2. Ibid., 100. Honoring Creation, Honoring God t t t BY AMY STARR REDWINE f a i t h f u l p a r e n t i n g Photo courtesy of Amy Starr Redwine Autumn's vibrantly colored trees and crisp air draw many people (adults and children alike!) into nature, but if we are ready to answer, creation calls to us and restores in every season.