This week is called Earth Week. I plan to post an agenda of activities for each day, to show my dedication and love for the earth.
1. Write about my Earth Quaker ideas
Next week I'm helping to lead our Adult Religious Education class, called "Quakers and the Natural World". I'll write a little of my talk here each day:
The way to find Unity with the Earth is with Discernment with the Earth. Discernment is the process of finding the right course of action through spiritual perception and thoughtful consideration; the intersection of contemplative practice and social acton. If we are going to make a decision that will impact the Earth, either as an individual or as a community, why would we not include the Earth in our discernment process?
1. Our Faith and Practice says, "It is important that every meeting for discernment by a meeting, committee, or other decision-making body begin with a period of worship rather than with 'a few moments of silence,' so that the spirit of worship will pervade the transaction of business."
I like to invite the Earth to worship with me anytime I worship. I do that by acknowledging the Earth as God's creation and thanking her for giving me such a beautiful home, food, water, air to breathe - life.
2. After worship, thoughtful consideration commences, with talking and listening to everyone who will be impacted by the action. This is called seasoning. One way to season an action item with the Earth is to consult science. Another is to research ways Indigenous People have acted. Yet another is to go outside and sit on the Earth and let her talk to you!
If we all allowed Earth a place at the table of our discernment we could move forward to a future of great hope.
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