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The World That God Gave You

           God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)  

                Let’s begin with a disclaimer. I am not an ecofascist, an environmental extremist, or a tree hugger. Animals are not people in fur coats. Contrary to what Ingrid Newkirk said, a rat is not a pig is not a dog is not a boy. I don’t know that humans are 100% responsible for what’s happening with the climate, and I have great concerns about trusting humans to fix it – especially having read about how they’ve made things worse in the past.

          It’s just that it’s coming to spring, and I saw a post that mentioned the idea that young folks just have no idea how much more wildlife there used to be. I’ve thought about that more than once – because there just aren’t the Robins in my neighborhood up north, and the destruction that is preceding the construction in the field on the other side of the park is driving out birds and bees, at least. Last October, I listened to a lecture about what plants are the best for developing biodiversity (Oak and Goldenrod were the two for both my places, so they’re probably yours, too.) If we’d plan ¼ of our 49,000 square miles of lawns with native plants instead of grass, one estimate said that we’d add more than 12,000 square miles of habitat for wildlife, which would also reduce the pollution in our air.

          When man was created, God gave us responsibility for taking care of the world. That responsibility didn’t go away. Neither you, nor I, nor any government can “fix” things. Even fixing our own yards will take time and money. It’s not going to happen this spring or summer at my house.

          I’m not writing this in order to jump down anyone’s throat. I’m not Greta the Great, here to scold, “Shame on you.” What I am going to suggest that you do is pray. Ask God what He wants you to do to better care for your part of the world, and then do it. Learn something over the next several months that allows you to take better responsibility for the world that God gave you.

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