Our Eco-Journey (and things you could try)
Delight more. Consume less. Fear less.
Concern for environmental issues and care for the natural world are not optional extras for Christians. These are essential ways of loving God, loving others and loving ourselves.
Yet it's not easy. It can be overwhelming, disheartening and confusing.
Here at St Denys Church, we're on a journey of taking small steps to make a difference. And we'd thought we'd share something of our journey with others, so we can learn together and see what is possible.
Three Guiding Principles
A local environmentalist shared these three principles when speaking at a service, and they've underpinned our outlook to nature and the environment.
Consume less
Taking less from the natural world and from other people is crucial for the well-being of our planet. We can do this by buying less, using the things we do have wisely, throwing less stuff away and trying to make us of things that are renewable. To do this might involve changing our habits but it also can be creative and fun and helpful to our mental and physical health. If you need some ideas you can read how we've been trying to consume less electricity.
Fear less
When it comes to nature, some of us fear spiders or other creepy crawlies. But for many of us there are bigger yet more subtle fears: fear that we can't make a difference, fear that we'll get something wrong, fear that people will disaprove of us, fear that the world is doomed. These fears can be reduced with information, collaboration, imagination and Christ-centred hope. And when we fear less we are likely to act more.
Delight more
A great antidote to over-consumption and fear is delight (it's also one of the first thing we are told in Genesis that God did). We can delight in the sights, sound and smells of nature, even on our doorstep or outside our window. You don't need to be an expert in order to take delight, as watching any child splashing in a muddy puddle will tell you. And we can also delight in the small changes & successes that are steps taken towards greater care of the environment. Delight can energise and inspire and it's great to do it together.
