A few weeks ago I was watching a program on public television. It was about the terrible flooding in Bangladesh. After showing thousands of homeless, hungry families, the documentary very matter of factly stated that American’s are to blame and we must pay. The next day, on the same channel, I walked past the TV just long enough to hear a voice claiming that “climate change” is killing more and more animals every year. Once again, America is the fall guy.
I’m sorry, stop me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that what experts called evolution? Scientists have recorded “climate change” for thousands of years and the way I remember it, evolution is the animals way of coping with it. Hmmm…could it be that the evolution theory is not all it’s cracked up to be???
Okay, I will get off on a tanget here if I’m not careful. Back to Bangladesh.
I truly feel for the people in 3rd world countries. Jeremy and I have sponsored families in those areas for the almost 10 years that we’ve been married. But is my SUV, that I only drive 3-4 days a week, responsible for their flooding? Should I feel remorseful about causing it? Do I OWE them?
Certain politians would say yes. But these same politicians, the ones who stand to make millions of dollars by doubling my energy bill, the ones who claim we are personally responsible for damaging the planet, I do not see them making changes that will positively effect the poor people they exploit.
In 2007 Al Gore won an Academy Award for his documentary on global warming. Shortly after, an article came out stating that his personal home consumed more energy in one month than the average American family uses in an entire year! (See here.) Now you tell me, does that sound like someone truly concerned about this issue?
I related this frustration to a friend who then recommended I read “Serve God Save the Planet” by J. Matthew Sleeth. What an eye opener! This guy not only talks the talk, he practices what he preaches. Ten years ago he was living what we would all call the American dream. Big house, fancy cars, high paying job, the list goes on. But then something happpened, he turned to biblical truths about personal responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship. If we, as Christians, say we love God, how can we not love what He loves? He created the Earth. He loves His creation. How well are we taking care of it?
This book really made me stop and think about my habits, my desires, and my lifestyle. Earlier this year my family decided to start doing a better job of recycling. We have gone from filling up one curbside trash can per week to one every other week. Cutting our landfill trash by 50% is huge for us, but what is the next step? Certainly there is more we can do.
Since reading this book we’ve set some new goals to reduce our energy usage. Currently we are setting our thermostat at 66 degrees. Yesterday I compared our bill to last years and we had a 35% reduction in Kilowatt hours. And all I had to do was put on some extra fuzzy socks.
We use a compost for our fruit and vegtable scraps, fuss at the kids every chance we get about turning out the lights, and I’m getting better about remembering to bring my reusable grocery bags into the store with me instead of forgetting them in the car. I’ve even gotten over my issue with using the Publix bags at Walmart! Woo-Hoo!!!
I’ve gotten off of several mailing lists with the help of Catalog Choice and Do Not Mail to reduce the amount of junk mail we were getting. And most recently I quit running the dishwasher. Believe it or not, the worst part about hand washing dishes for me was not the actual washing part. It’s having dishes in the sink while they dry. I hate stuff on my countertops!
But the upside is we’re not running out of spoons!
Next on my list is something the author referred to as “Precycling”. Really noticing how my purchases are packaged. Is it something I can recycle? How much can be recycled? If it’s mostly landfill waste, do I have another option?
And the two things I’m considering reluctantly? Using a clothes line and the Diva Cup. Granted, 2 completely different areas of the spectrum. However, both have a huge impact on the environment.
I don’t know the exact impact my abuse and neglect has had thus far on the planet, but I can say that I am not only willing, but excited to do more. My hope is to make changes that will positively affect those around me, pass this information on to my children and do a better job at serving my Creator.
(from the book) “Consumers are willing to make commitments and to work hard, but what are they choosing to serve? A material world or a spiritual world? At the end of a materially rich day, Consumerism says, ‘Buy more.’ At the end of a spiritually rich life, God says, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.'”
Is it time for you to change bosses?
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