Earth Day

Today is earth day 2021. I'm listening when I can to some of the remarks from international leaders convening at U.S. President Biden's "Leader's Summit on Climate." It is energizing, sobering, and concerning all at the same time. From tiny sea-level nations in the Pacific Ocean pleading for a 1.5 degree C global temperature increase as a firm line that can't be crossed to the world's economic super powers claiming climate action as the engine for COVID-19 recovery.

I think of these comments falling like rain on a seething mass of dis-unity among the people of the world. I see a black tendon writhe at the touch of this rain as it screams "anti-Christ!" towards the notion of the United Nations. I see an oily mass spurt toxic gas as it responds to climate science with distracting speculation around the nature of truth. I even catch wind of hissing voices that say these actions from global politics are not enough.

As a human being, inseparably physical and spiritual, I use my own will to form an image of a rising island among this landscape of despair. It generates its own light, I channel the light of the creator of all things into this image as it rises from darkness. It is a picture of unity. Of clean hands clasped together forming a place for darkened figures to step out of the mirk and mire and find light. It doesn't matter to this unified body if it is correct, has the best knowledge, the best resources or even if it is safe from the pain of the mass around it. All that matters is that together the light becomes visible to those who don't yet see it. The individuals see it, they covet it, they nurture it within them, but its not until the reach out and take hold of their neighbour that the world begins to shine with it.

Happy Earth Day. Not a happy day for the earth by any means but there is joy to be found today in unity and the light of God who holds all things together.