Saving The Planet Through Sheer Laziness

A few years back I decided I should learn how to live with the Earth instead of simply living on it.  This has prompted me to make recycling a part of my life, doing the best I can to prevent introducing new plastics into my life, making fewer purchases and driving less.  

I know I’m not bettering the environment; at best I’m simply destroying it at a slower pace.  Even still I feel that it’s better than how I was living.

Today I came across a new website.  Last Year’s Model is a site that encourages folks to hold onto older technology even though the newer is prettier.  Here we are encouraged to make do with what we already have instead of always running to find the best new technology.

This reminded me of a devotion I shared with my first period class yesterday.  That morning I read Philippians 4:10 – 13.  Here Paul writes, 

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

What I talked about with my students tracks well with some of the motivations of Last Year’s Model.  What I pointed out was that Paul had learned how to be content no matter what his situation.  I considered that he learned how to be content with plenty.  Kind of like how we, as typical Americans compared with the rest of historical and present humanity, are people with plenty and we are not content.

We could take a lesson from Paul and encouragement from folks like Last Year’s Model but I do not think it would be enough.  We need what helped Paul.  He finished his thought with he could do all things though Jesus that gave him strength.  May I be willing to seek Jesus’ help for peace and contentment instead of seeking whatver delights my wallet may provide.

The Preservation of Life Itself

A few years ago during my first graduate course, titled The Age of Revolutions, I was to write about a revolution that was presently happening or would be coming in the near future.  I chose to consider the need for an enviornmental revolution.  As I researched my chosen thesis I became more aware of a practice that, at the time, I had only token knowledge.

As I read more about it I first became saddened by the destruction of mountains (one of my favorite natural areas).  The more I considered it the more I realized that the destruction of my favorite play areas were small compared to the destruction left in the wake of mountaintop removal.  

Being an inherrently selfish person I continued to think of the implications for me.  I next thought about one of the things I (along with every other living entity on Earth) need; water.

I’m not sure many folks think about where water comes from when they step in the shower or pull out a glass for a drink.  If they did they would think about a river.  Rivers begin as many streams and creeks come together that typically have beginnings in the valleys between mountains.  This is not a problem when the watershed areas are protected but these areas that are vital for good water for Americans are put in jepordy with mountaintop removal.

When the mountain is removed it is deposited in the valleys surrounding the mountain.  This creates more flatland for development purposes but this filling greatly pollutes the headwaters for rivers that feed the thrists of millions. 

Without being overly dramatic I will borrow a phrase from Wendell Berry.  Preserving the mountains yields to directly preserving the watersheds we all so despretely need leads to “the preservation of life itself.”  

So I, being inherrently selfish, need to ask what can I do.  What can I do as an American Christian man?  What can I do to protect the land?  What about to protect the people stricken with poverty due to the unjust capitalistic practices of the coal industries?

As a man I can ally myself with organizations that exist to encourage and implement change.  Organizations such as iLoveMountains.org.  As an American I can vote and pester, I mean write letters, to my Represtatives and Senators.  As a Christian I can love my neighbors, literally, as I love myself by seeking to see that watershed areas are maintained by sustainalbe means.