Today is Earth Day, a chance to celebrate this amazing planet we live on. Being mindful of our environment is being a good steward. The earth is our treasure.
I won't wade into the particular politics of environmentalism, but it is a Christian issue. Being a person of faith means sharing love, generating joy and spreading peace. All of this can be preached in the great outdoors as well as in a church. Reading Genesis 1:1, taking in the magnificence of creation, should be inspiration enough to want to take care of our planet and preserve it's resources.
St. Francis of Assisi, who lived in the Middle Ages (and who I lovingly refer to as the hippie saint) wrote a prayer that has been passed down through the ages:
Original text in Umbrian dialect:
Altissimu, onnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.
Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sor'Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke 'l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
NOTE: so=sono, si=sii (you are), mi=mio, ka=perché, u replaces v, sirano=saranno
English Translation:
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
Amen
A great way to teach our children stewardship would be to reuse items and turn them into something new. Crystal Lite containers can be turned into a great pencil cup, old t shirts into tote bags, and egg cartons into caterpillars.
From the Elmer's website:
Supplies Needed:
Elmer's Glue-All™
Cardboard Egg Carton
Construction Paper
Chenille Pipe Cleaner
Jiggly Eyes
Scissors
Poster Paint
Elmer's Paintbrush
Markers
Instructions
Cut off the lid from the egg carton. Use the bottom section of the egg carton for this project.
Cut the bottom section of the egg carton in half lengthwise.
Cut off the lip of the egg carton if necessary so that the edges are even all of the way around.
Paint the egg carton in bright colors. Add spots and stripes to make the caterpillar unique and realistic. Let the paint dry completely.
Glue two Jiggly Eyes to one end of the egg carton. Draw a mouth with markers.
Cut a sheet of construction paper into six strips to make legs. Make sure each strip is slightly longer than the width of the egg carton so it sticks out on both sides of it. Turn over the egg carton and glue the strips to the separators between each section. Let the glue dry completely.
Turn over the caterpillar and poke pipe cleaners into the top of the front section for antennae.
