As temporary residents of planet earth, most of us realize the importance of being good stewards of what we will eventually pass on to future generations.
So we make healthy choices, like reducing the things we waste, like recycling, like reusing items we would’ve discarded in the past. We do these things because we understand our environment is fragile.
The dictionary defines the environment as, “the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions or influences; the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or population.”
I like that one, “forces that shape us”.
Our goal, since we began Our Time, has been to create an environment where women can discover their God-given potential and destiny. We create an atmosphere that will encourage and nurture the value of women.
We know how important it is to get in an environment that allows for a change of perspective. We all face challenges in our lives, but if we don’t occassionally stand back and see from a different vantage point, we remain stuck where we are. So here are a few environmental discoveries I have made that might help you.
Creating your environment:
Individually, I believe each of us is responsible for the environment we allow in our lives. God has given us freedom and creativity to breathe into our personal space (what happens in our minds, expressions on our faces, our positive outlook). We need to be vigilant and ever mindful of the atmosphere we are creating and absorbing.
Protecting your environment:
To protect our environment means a lot of things to me- it means we strive for peace. Peace in our workplace, in our home, in our school and in our church.
It means we plan ahead, to avoid last minute panics in our day that disrupt the calm.
We protect our environment by filling our space with wonderful music that evokes worship and adoration of God throughout our day.
It means we choose to not allow people to take up residence in our atmosphere who are consistently trying to tear down with negativity and conflict.
We protect our environment by filling it with words of blessing and faith and kindness.
Save your environment:
To save the environment brings another dimension to this concept. To save something implies it is in jeopardy of being lost. It brings to mind places like the Gulf of Mexico where that enormous oil leak is threatening their way of life. It’s wreaking havoc on the population as they hopelessly watch their waters be contaminated with black slimy goo, their marshlands shrink, wildlife suffer and their fishing industry become non existent. Big problems require big answers. Sometimes the ‘little people’ feel helpless while they wait for someone else who is bigger than they are, to save the environment.
We walk into situations of desperation and potential loss all the time. Hopeless environments where marriages are at stake, health scares in stark hospital rooms, and businesses at risk.
I believe we are not simply called to create and protect our environments, but to save them! We are here to bring answers, to be the salt and light to our world.
Mt 5:13,16 says, “Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? …by opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up to God”
We don’t have to have all the answers to the environmental catastrophys we step in to, but we are called to introduce those involved to the ONE who is the answer. If we don’t flavor the atmosphere with the kindness of God, and show them how big He is, they may never know they should look for more of Him.
After all these analagies typed on my little iPhone keypad, it really comes down to a message that’s quite simple.
In our lives, we must stop looking at ourselves as victims to what’s going on in the atmosphere around us and choose instead to create, protect and save the environment we are in.
