Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on
25th April 2023
Today is the feast of St Mark. St Mark is often represented by the symbol of a lion – bounding into action – and with a fast paced gospel. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
Having spent four days at The Big One when each day was a day of action, I feel reluctant to let go of that energy, that desire to make a difference. Can faith be that ongoing source of energy?
24th April 2023
Persistence
Today is the last day of The Big One but not the last day of the global campaign to tackle the climate crisis and climate injustice. Let us remember that this is not just our campaign but God’s campaign. Remember the many stories of the Bible that show the collective strength of small and insignificant people and the power of persistence, and remember that God is always there with them.
The Waves
The gentle to and fro of the wave,
back and forth,
soothing,
gently rocking,
Loving God, calm us, and
move us as peace-makers.
The persistence of the wave,
never stopping,
never quitting,
gradually wearing down all resistance
Loving God, sustain us, and
make us a force for good.
The power of the wave,
building up,
growing in size,
acquiring energy as it moves
Loving God, strengthen us, and
harness our energy to do what is right.
The breaker, poised but still moving,
ready to break –
to break out, to break up,
to break forth
Loving God, contain us, and
prepare us to spill out into the world.
The crest of the wave, exploding,
releasing energy
that breaks down barriers
and undermines obstructions
Loving God, free us, and
use us to reform the structures of the world.
Storm wave, tidal wave,
tsunami,
that brokers no discussion,
that overwhelms all
Loving God, override us,
and free the world from its own vices.
Amen.
23rd April 2023
Perspective
Loving God, we strive to follow your ways
of righteousness and justice in the world.
Yet we feel small and inept, and lay before you our dilemma.
Will you stand by if humanity continues to ignore your ways, following a path instead that leads to self destruction?
Will you stand by if 5000 choose not to follow the crowd? For the sake of the few, will you protect us all from self destruction?
Lord have mercy.
But loving God, Will you stand by if only 500 choose not to follow the crowd?
For the sake of the few, will you protect us all from self destruction?
Lord have mercy.
But loving God, Will you stand by if only 50 choose not to follow the crowd?
For the sake of the few, will you protect us all from self destruction?
Lord have mercy.
Loving God, strengthen our resolve to do what is right,
to stand up for the marginalised,
to safeguard creation and protect life
Give us the confidence to share our concerns
and our hopes for the planet,
so that we can encourage and welcome others
to follow the path of righteousness and justice.
Amen.
“Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
22nd April 2023
Action
From the first chapters of Genesis, we realise that God created humans to be active participants in the wellbeing of the earth.
We stand at a tipping point, O God,
teetering between life and death:
Shall we fall or rise?
“Chose life!”
Shall we retreat into our shells, bury our heads in the sand:
Or shall we step forth into a new age of sustainability?
“Chose life!”
Shall we ignore the science, hide ourselves in the trappings of consumerism:
Or shall we openly embrace renewable lifestyles?
“Chose life!”
Shall we pointlessly mourn the loss of polar bears and elephants, bees and butterflies:
Or shall we live our lives so that all may live?
“Chose life!”
Shall we fly to the ends of the earth while ice sheets melt:
Or value the future by enjoying what is local?
“Chose life!”
Shall we disregard floods and droughts, storms and heat waves, as seasonal blips:
Or acknowledge them as already-present signs of climate change?
“Chose life!”
Shall we close our ears to cries of help from farmers and islanders as their lands disappear:
Or shall we join voices in calling for justice?
“Chose life!”
Holy God,
Prompt us and urge us, encourage and propel us,
to now change our life styles so that all may have life and live!
Amen.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
21st April 2023
Realisation
Regret can lead either to despair – there is no hope – or lament which is an expression of grief that leave the way open for new beginnings.
Love and cherish not some of the earth but all;
Not just your back yard, but mine too;
Not just your local wood but the rainforests too;
Not just your home town but the favelas too.
Love and cherish not some creatures but all;
Not just pandas and tigers, but the vulture and bat too;
Not just bees but wasps and spiders too;
Not just elephants but slugs and snails too.
Love and cherish not some landscapes but all;
Not just meadows but peat bogs too;
Not just ancient woodlands but hedgerows too
Not just national parks but grass verges too.
Love and cherish not some people but all;
Not just city bankers but street cleaners too;
Not just business leaders but refugees too;
Not just home owners but travellers too.
For if we do not, we are all diminished.
If we do not we shall all suffer
from droughts and floods,
rising sea levels and declining water supplies,
from infectious diseases and resistant bacteria.
We are one world, one family,
one eco system, one interdependent
and interwoven creation.
God, our creator, redeemer and sustainer,
Bring us to our senses!
Now!
Compassionate God, you know our hearts and share our sorrows.
We are hurt by the despoiling of the living Earth, which we love.
We are angry at the loss we contemplate.
We long for words of comfort, yet find them hard to hear.
Turn our grief to active love
Turn our anger to energy for the repair of the world
Turn our guilt to solidarity
and by your forgiveness make us whole with all creation.
Amen
(Andii Bowsher, Green Christians)
O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.
Psalm 104:24-25
20th April 2023
Regret
Honest awareness of what is happening in the world may prompt us to consider the part we have been or are playing, and to reassess our response.
Far away and near at hand
The floods were far away
Now there near at hand.
How long before I wet my feet
and take a stand?
The heat was far away.
Now it’s close to home.
How long before I own the fact
and finally begin to act?
Hurricanes were tropical.
Now they’re topical.
How long before I feel my guilt
and understand the world we’ve built?
Our climate is changing –
Far away and near at hand.
Holy God, redeem our failings
and strengthen our resolve:
far away and near at hand.
How long O Lord?
How many heat waves?
How many droughts?
How many floods?
How many lost coast lines?
How many before we admit our error?
Before we recognise the crisis?
How many lost penguins?
How many missing polar bears?
How many extinct butterflies?
How many disappearing swifts?
How many before we admit our error?
Before we recognise the crisis?
How many car journeys?
How many air miles?
How many beef steaks?
How many tonnes of cement?
How many before we admit our error?
Before we recognise the crisis?
Creator God, we admit our error
and recognise the crises we have caused.
Grant us the wisdom and determination to make amends:
To change the way we live,
To change the way we see things,
To have care for the future. Amen.
19th April 2023
Panic
Being aware of what is happening, can overwhelm us. If it’s the goodness and beauty that overwhelms we can become ecstatic. But if it is fear and horror, it can be a cause of panic. In either the invitation is to share our feelings with God.
Stop the world!
I want to get off!
I can’t cope with climate anxiety,
with the knowledge that we are still
polluting the atmosphere with CO2.
Stop the world!
I want to get off!
I can’t cope with the politics
that we continue to ignore –
that let the rich grow richer & the poor poorer.
Stop the world!
I want to get off!
I can’t cope with the cycle of hate and war,
with our conviction that being tough
will bring peace and reconciliation.
Stop the world!
I want to get off!
I can’t cope with the pursuit of profit
that says ‘I’m worth it’
whilst resolutely destroying our world.
Stop the world!
I want to get off!
I can’t cope with myopia
that can’t see the spread of global suffering
because we are safe in our wealth.
Eternal God,
Give me some hope to aim for,
courage to continue,
and peace to regain strength.
Amen.
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
18th April 2023
Awareness
Listen; attune your ears – what do you hear?
The excited chatter of children,
and the chatter of jackdaws,
wind rustling the leaves,
and feet tapping the road.
Or the drone of cars – too much!
Or the whine of planes – too many!
Look; focus your vision – what do you see?
a lacework of branches against the sky,
and curvaceous clouds,
tawny shades of fallen leaves,
and the tight curl of a snail shell.
Or traffic crawling bumper to bumper – too much
Or discarded tatters of plastic – too many!
Stretch; bare your skin – what do you feel?
The warm caress of the sun,
the chilly nip of the breeze,
the prickle of grass,
the textured bark of a tree
Or the rasp of exhaust in your throat – too much!
Or the scratch of particulates in your eyes – too many!
Sniff; breathe deeply – what do you smell?
The aroma of fresh coffee,
and the zest of orange juice,
the fragrance of the last rose,
and the warmth of ground spices.
Or the reek of petrol – too much!
Or the sting of pesticides – too many!
Savour; let it linger on your tongue – what do you taste?
The fresh acidity of an apple,
and the earthy satisfaction of bread,
the squashy sweetness of banana,
and the melting delight of chocolate.
Or the fake sweetness of green wash – too much!
Or the gall of climate injustice- too many !
Merciful God,
bring us to our senses.
Help us rebuild a world
of right experiences.
Amen.
Taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed are those who trust in God!
Psalm 34:8
17th April 2023
Prayers around the Big One
Hope
God wills that the world should be a place of beauty and peace – and the world is full of signs and stories showing us how we can part of such a world.
All that is holy!
Amongst the woods and forests,
between oaks and cedars,
God’s name is holy.
In the seas and oceans,
with whales and sea urchins,
God’s name is holy.
Across the moors and meadows,
with curlews and plovers,
God’s name is holy.
By riverbanks and streams,
following eels and kingfishers,
God’s name is holy .
High up on mountain peaks and glaciers,
sheltering in cwms and gullies,
God’s name is holy.
Gathered in barns and hives,
buzzing with bees and bats,
God’s name is holy .
Hidden under stones and snuck into crevices,
lying low with lizards and spiders,
God’s name is holy .
In all corners of the world
and where ever life exists,
God’s name is holy!
Amen.
But ask the animals, and they will teach you;
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this? Job 12:7-9
Living God,
when we neglect to see the beauty around us,
open our eyes.
When we neglect to hear the music around us,
open our ears.
When we neglect to feel your presence,
awaken our senses.
When we neglect to receive your love,
open our hearts.
Living God,
re-inspire us with your Spirit,
so that in us too your name is holy. Amen.
15th April 2023
How about a virtual state visit? It would save on costs and carbon emissions for both the visitor and the recipient.
It does actually happen! Earlier this week I received an email telling me that such a visit had been made to Paraguay.
Minister Trevelyan met Vice President Hugo Velazquez during her virtual visit, accompanied by the team at the British Embassy in Asuncion.
The Green Tau 