Honoring Earth Day
In caring for the world around us, a spiritual view of our environment is an empowering starting point.
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was observed. Since then, it has blossomed into a global movement, bringing together countless individuals and organizations around the world in efforts to better understand and protect the environment.
Earth has many wonders, yet our beautiful planet is also facing considerable challenges, including climate change and pollution.
I’ve found that when we let God, Spirit, inform our perspective, we’re better able to move forward in altruistic and productive directions. Seeking higher, spiritual views of life – above and beyond a perspective that sees life as fundamentally material and resources as limited – is a powerful starting point for addressing issues, including environmental ones.
The Bible offers deep knowledge about life and the universe. Right from the beginning, the Bible affirms God, who is divine Spirit, as the creator of heaven and earth, and states that God made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Since God is eternal Spirit, it follows logically that creation is the expression of Spirit – is actually spiritual, and is the emanation of the creator’s enduring goodness.
Later in the Bible comes the absolute proof of this inspired perspective as reality, with the advent of Christ Jesus. I like to think of Jesus as an outstanding environmentalist, in the most profound way: He was so conscious of the pure all-presence of God, divine Love, that he proved the kingdom of heaven to be the actual environment in which we live. In other words, our true identity is spiritual – we’re not mortals doomed to living in a vulnerable world. We’re God’s offspring, held safe and secure in His infinite, pure goodness.
Jesus demonstrated this throughout his ministry. For instance, when there was a large crowd with nothing to eat, his understanding of divine Love’s abundant supply resulted in food for all – plus leftovers, and the wisdom to conserve them (see Matthew 14:15-21). On another occasion, Jesus’ awareness of the natural order and harmony of God’s creation calmed a violent storm (see Matthew 8:23-27).
The Monitor’s founder and the discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, cared deeply about the well-being of all. Through her study of Jesus’ teachings, she recognized that God, divine Mind, communicates pure and healthful ideas to everyone through Christ, which she described as “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 332).
In listening to the Christ message we, too, can come to see God’s spiritual environment as the true environment in which we live. And as we follow Christ, letting our thoughts and actions reflect pure divine Love, this inspires fresh ways to care for others and the planet. It enables us to live Godlike qualities such as wisdom and lovingkindness, and to experience more tangibly our oneness with God and His bountiful goodness.
Pondering the beauty, wholeness, and abundance of God’s creation has led me to pray regularly for the environment. I’ve found that prayer as explained in Christian Science helps me to recognize the inspiring, hope-bringing spiritual reality – the entirely good creation that God made and knows – rather than feel dismayed by the limited, material picture that the physical senses present.
Years ago when I owned a house, it came to me to pray with the idea that we dwell in divine Love, God, who imparts lovely qualities such as comfort, beauty, and purity. My prayers brought a conviction that spiritual reality naturally finds expression in practical ways.
And indeed, those prayers led me to ideas for managing the property in ways that were gentle for the environment. Although it sometimes took more time or money to do things in environmentally friendly ways, possibilities arose to do so. And rather than feeling that my resources were diminished, I continue to feel enriched by this prayerful approach.
In the environment of divine Love – the true environment in which we live – all needs are met. We can know this and feel the joy of doing good, of outwardly expressing God’s goodness, in the world around us.