I believe that the creation of the cosmos and all that is in it is a reflection of God’s extraordinary love, generosity, and creativity. Creation has been a faithful mentor for me on this life’s journey, in both spiritual and physical ways. It has taught me deep lessons, in a non-judgmental way, about resilience, renewal, reciprocity, joy, abundance, diversity, and rest – all freely given when I make time to listen and learn. God’s unseen work, evidenced in Creation, can amuse, inspire, and wake me up to spiritual deepening. I cannot see what is happening on the earth when I plant seeds, yet I know that a myriad of fungal and insect activity is at work, affecting seed germination and resulting in plants I can see. As I learn more about the intelligence of all Creation, I collaborate with greater humility, patience, awe, and praise even in dark times. The late Pope Francis has said that the Book of Genesis suggests that human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with the neighbor, and with the earth itself. Tending to our shared home is vital.
For the past 10 years, Fairlington United Methodist Church, Alexandria, VA, a UMC Green Covenant church, has been converting a ½ acre portion of church property into a primarily native plants and trees area to offer a modest urban respite, especially for pollinators, and our community neighbors who have no green space at all. This endeavor offers many health and spiritual benefits for all to enjoy.
-Submitted by Anne Wilson, Fairlington UMC