– Rev Jacob Dye, Heritage Creation Care Team
Have you settled on a spiritual practice for this season of Lent? On Ash Wednesday, we were invited “to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.” All of these things can help us be better caretakers of creation.
By being mindful of our consumerism, we can make a drastic impact on the resources used and waste generated in the production, packaging, and shipping of items we often buy without giving it a second thought. Through spending time in Scripture, we can have our eyes opened to the many times we are instructed to be, not users, but loving caretakers of creation.
Another key aspect of Lent is mindfulness and awareness – of who we are and who God is. If you have not yet settled on a practice for this season of Lent, perhaps you can practice this awareness by connecting with a specific part of the creation around you – in your town or even in your own backyard. This could be as simple as birdwatching, or paying attention to the vegetation around you as it comes back to life with the warming weather. By paying attention to God’s creation around you, you may just be surprised by what creation reveals to you about yourself, and about God’s work in the world.
Also, if you’re interested in joining the Heritage Creation Care team (clergy or laity), please join us at the Mills Church in Rocky Mount on Saturday, March 25 at 10am for a conference-wide meeting of district creation care teams. You can find more info about this event and register here. Your district creation care team is praying that you have a meaningful Lenten season that draws you closer to God and God’s creation.