We are Called to Be Good Stewards
We can live more fully by embracing abundance and living in peace with our neighbors and with Creation.
Like many of you, I have been closely watching the news about this season’s storms. Helene left so much damage and devastation in her wake. Now it seems Milton has done much the same. Hurricanes are much more intense than they used to be.
This is not good news for anyone. And, honestly, as we head into Indigenous People’s Day, I can only feel grief for the way humans have treated this planet and each other. We must do better before it is too late.
While none of us alone can reverse climate change or repair relationships with those whose land we occupy, we can make small changes that can lead to healing. First, we can be mindful of the resources we use and ask ourselves how we can make choices that are healthier for the planet. You know – reduce, reuse, recycle.
We can also educate ourselves on renewable energy and support companies that are reducing their carbon emissions and producing less waste overall. Surely, we can all do something before Antarctica is completely green.
While we are seeking to live more gently on the planet, we can also endeavor to live more peacefully with all our neighbors. Educating ourselves on the true history of Indigenous Peoples in this country, in this state, is necessary. Moving toward reparations and healing is essential for the future of humanity.
With all the messages of fear and hatred mixed in with denial, we need to remember that we have a higher calling. All human beings are called to be stewards of Creation, caretakers of resources. We aren’t meant to hoard resources; we are meant to share them.
We do not need to live in scarcity. We can live more fully by embracing abundance and living in peace with our neighbors and with Creation. This means sharing what we have with those who have less, and leaving behind the false promises of those who promote fear and scarcity.
In the days ahead, be mindful of the storms – literal and metaphoric. Do your part to protect Creation and heal what generations before us have broken. It isn’t too late for us to be good stewards of the resources we have been given.
Please share in the comments one or two ways you are caring for Creation, your neighbors, and/or your own spirit.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
Copyright
Unless otherwise specified, all content on this site is copyrighted by the author, when designated, or by Living Table United Church of Christ. This means that you cannot copy-and-paste content from this website to reuse elsewhere without express written permission. All images are copyrighted and may not be used elsewhere. With any questions, please contact us. You can still share everything from this site by sharing a link to the exact page of interest. What is prohibited by this policy and standard U.S. copyright law is reusing or republishing our content without license.