Caring for Creation

By Susan Shipman

My mother had driven the 90 minutes to pick me up, along with some other girls from our hometown troop. As we packed the trunk with suitcases and duffels, pillows, woven hotpads (you know the ones!) and other crafts we had assembled, I clandestinely tucked the sack with the snake into a corner of the car trunk. We were not far from of the gates of Hazelwood, when a campmate spilled the beans to my Mother, who went ballistic! Not a snake lover like my brother and me, she stopped the car, popped open the trunk, and commanded me to let loose the serpent. I complied but cried and pouted a good part of the ride home, and didn’t speak to my Mother for the entire drive - or to my little friend who ratted me out to my Mom. Little did I know at the time, but my Mom was practicing creation care. Don’t get me wrong, she was not at all fond of snakes. But she had the good sense to know that wild animals are better off left in their natural environments.

Which is a message I shared with the Brownies at Girl Scout Day Camp on Blyth Island in June. These young ladies were working on their EcoFriend badge, which could easily be considered a Creation Care badge. The areas of focus were animal homes; taking care of wildlife; observing outdoor spaces;  problems when we do not respect the environment; and being kind to the earth. Each of us would do well to give thought to each of those topics. We have many challenges facing us when it comes to taking care of planet earth ---- the warming climate and the associated weather changes, plastics pollution (especially in our waterways), and deforestation, to name a monumental few. For now, planet earth is the only home we’ve got. It would serve us and our global neighbors well to accelerate and enhance our personal actions to honor and care for it. Need some tips? Ask a local Brownie Scout. And refer to scripture. 

The following excerpts are taken from the “EarthCare Resource Guide No. 3”, August 2001, compiled by Richard Alan Young,  EarthCare, Inc., Chattanooga, TN 

"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:9-10)

"Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10)

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds." (Psalm 148:7-10)

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight." (Luke 12:6; cf. Matthew 10:29)

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth." (Psalm 104:10-14)

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live.... You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites." (Numbers 35:33-34)

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

From: Book of Common Prayer, 1979, Prayers for the Natural Order, #40.  For Knowledge of God’s Creation