For the past 4 years I have been teaching children and adults how to eat healthy food and live sustainably since taking courses through e-Cornell and Whole Communities.
I would approach each teaching opportunity as a way to pass on information to others based on what I had learned. I would do a demonstration or hands-on activity to illustrate my point about healthy eating, reusing single-use products, recycling, and composting. I would emphasize what would happen if we did nothing.
I took pride in spreading the word about caring for the Earth.
This year I realized that, although I acknowledged that we are the caretakers of Earth, I did not make God the center of the conversation. I focused on what we need to do to take action while giving examples of what I am doing to care for the Earth.
Caring for creation should not be focused on our fear of planetary destruction or to glorify our own efforts. It should be driven by the joy we find in nature and our desire to do God’s work.
Every plant and animal has value because it was made by Him for Him. We should treat every small daily choice as a way to honor God’s creation.
Mary Kaeding