(Note: Today’s guest blogger is parishioner Lou Anne DaRin. Lou Anne is part of the Mother Committee and has been a wonderful voice for our community related to aligning our lives more deeply with the environment. We are grateful for this contribution today!)
Today’s words by Jeremiah (17:5-10) lend themselves to reflecting on nature. In the reading Jeremiah says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They are like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
When I read this I hear Jeremiah comparing a person who trusts in the Lord to a mighty tree (I’m thinking of the strong, sturdy oak that shades my backyard). How beautifully that tree is described. The tree trusts the earth even in drought and extreme heat. I’ve read all the scientific reasons why the mighty oak tree is such a wonder but I never thought of it as trusting,
I never would have thought to compare it to a person trusting the Lord. There are so many different ways to look at something.
Being in nature often helps me center myself. I find a certain peacefulness and quiet when I’m surrounded by nature. This winter I was able to spend some time down south on the coast. I’d start each day with a walk along the ocean watching the sun come up. Witnessing that magnificent scene (and holding the memory of it) inspires me to want to take care of the earth in any way I possibly can. God gave us such a wonderful world and He continues to offer us a beautiful sunrise each morning and sunset in the evening. I want to use the time in between to do something good for the earth. Even if it’s the simplest of things, like picking up a piece of trash.
Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” I don’t think she was thinking of improving the world environmentally but this quote still resonates with me. We don’t need to wait a single moment! We can take action now. We can cut down on food waste by composting, we can cut down on our lawns by planting native plants, we can cut down on our consumption of beef. The list is endless. There is plenty to do!
As you think about today’s scripture, think about your relationship to the natural world. A few weeks ago when Fr. Jim was preaching he said, “Get reacquainted with nature. If we don’t love it we’re not going to protect it.”
(If you are interested in joining the Mother Earth Committee and walk with us not waiting a single moment to work on improving the world, please do. We meet the first Tuesday of each month. We can be contacted at motherearth@spirituschristi.org. We’d love to meet you.)
9 Comments
Thomas P Dwyer
Thanks Lou Anne. I’m down in Florida during the winter and I’m always checking out the different kinds of trees here. I too was surprised to hear how the tree trusts in God. But all things are possible with God and if God created nature and humans why deny the relationship. It puts a smile on my face and today when I look at nature’s beauty I’ll be a little more introspective and grateful to the abundance of love God has for us through trees and all the Earth’s beauty.
Mike Boucher Author
Thanks for writing, Thomas! Glad you are with us from Florida and sharing the beauty with us!
Lou Anne DaRin
Thanks for your thoughts, Thomas. There is so much beautiful nature in Florida (including the bright blue sky and daily sunshine). Enjoy taking it all in!
Diane L Seebach
Enjoying these daily emails during lent! Thank you!
Marilyn Rizzo-Ferris
Thank you, Lou Anne, for writing this blog and your commitment to improving the environment. Thank you, too, for educating and encouraging others to plant native plants, to eat more plant-based diets and living this all out in your own life.
Lou Anne DaRin
Thanks for your kind words, Marilyn. You also inspire Mother Earth Committee to keep on pushing out our message. It’s a team effort and we all play a part in it.
Nannette Dusseault
Yes, thank you so much Lou Anne! I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass when your blog arrived. Love your comments! In our town outside Albany, NY, our town supervisor is encouraging us to seek out amphibian migrations on the first rainy, above-40-degree day, so we can determine how many exist in town in hopes of building bridges to protect them. His passion helps us feel connected to the Earth and our community. Your efforts do the same for us at Spiritus.
Lou Anne DaRin
Thank you, Nannette. Funny you should mention Braiding Sweetgrass as Robin Wall Kimmer was just in Rochester earlier this week and I had the privilege of hearing her speak at Nazareth College on Tuesday. We are all pulling in the same direction using our different strengths. We have to believe we’ll get there!
Nannette Dusseault
That’s wonderful! I’m glad you got to hear her speak. I would have loved the opportunity. What a gift. Rochester offers such enriching activities.
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