A Mountain Retreat into "Renewal"
(From Larry's experience and the book: Green Church, by Rebekah Simon-Peter)
Take a trip into the mountains and:
- Reflect on the sights and sounds around you and feel a bond with God.
- Listen to the birds sing and hear the water in a nearby stream.
- Listen to the breeze as it sings of God's glory.
- Reflect on how God seeks our help to keep all of creation healthy and beautiful.
- Reflect on how we can be renewed as we sense a connection with God's creation and as we strive to live in harmony with one another.
- Reflect on ways in which we can help in renewal of the mountains and all of God's creation:
- Take out with you everything you brought with you and pick up other trash you see during your visit.
- Inspire others to act in a responsible manner to protect plant life as well as show respect for wildlife living in the area.
- Take a hike and feel the ground beneath your feet. Use all your senses to experience all life forms around you.
- Reduce waste and reuse what we can instead of buying more. Recycle what we do not need and pass it on to someone else.
- Rejoice in God's creation and the joy of being a part of the renewal process of our planet.
In the name of our God, who creates mountains,
the name of Christ, crucified on a mountain,
and the name of the Spirit, deep in the mountains
-- Rejoice!
http://www.webofcreation.org/SeasonofCreation/mountain2.html
The Green Team started meeting this year after various people studied a book called “Green Church”. The book not only focused on Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, which we hope to continue to promote over the coming months and years, but it also focused us on Reclaiming and rejoicing.
Reclaiming Nature meant, in part, to again physically experience the green.
Citing a statistic:
From 1997 to 2003, there was a decline of 50% in the proportion of children 9-12 who spent time in such activities as hiking, walking, fishing, beach play, and gardening.
This is called a “Nature Deficit Disorder”.
Yet children belong outside, rejoicing about nature.
In Matthew 18:3 Jesus Christ told his followers and us today
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
For myself (Dave), it’s far too easy to stay indoors and miss out the smells, sounds, and sights of this God-given gift of nature favoring the glass computer screen and modern entertainment options. I hope we all can become like children, go outdoors, and reclaim the nature we often miss.
