Questing Parson

One Billion Trees and Counting

Wangari Maathai - Spiritual Journey from 30goodminutes on Vimeo.

Poisoned Stewardship

So I debated writing a story for today or indulging myself. Myself won. 

I sat myself down and clicked, fired up the computer, and watched “Poisoned Waters”, a PBS Frontline presentation. The two hour program (and, yes, you should take time to watch it) examines the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound, thirty years after the Clean Water Act.

I won’t outline the story here (but, yes, you should watch it). Near the end the program examined King County, Washington, where there is an effort to address the problems that are poisoning Puget Sound’s waters, where the Orcas are dying from contaminants. One strategy has been to restrict people owning five acres of forest development from sub-dividing the property or utilizing more than one-third in a manner that would result in the cutting of trees. 

In the interview with one of the effected property owners, a woman stated in an angry voice: “It’s my land I can do whatever I want with it.”

Somehow she reminded me of so many church people I’ve run across over the years. “It’s our church.” 

“It’s mine!”

I thought of our current environmental problems. I thought of her attitude. I thought of the churches I’ve served.

This entire country suffers from a poisoned attitude toward stewardship.

Here ends the rant.