Most of the times that I have felt closest to God have been in outdoor spaces, in the beauty of Creation. I remember powerful spiritual experiences as a teen, standing on a small dock at Epworth by the Sea, sitting outdoors under an oak tree in the hills of North Georgia, and standing amidst the blueberry bushes on our family farm. Now in my 50s, I often sit outdoors or go for a walk when I am seeking God’s presence. God created ecosystems that are interwoven and dependent upon one another. The oceans and animals and air we breathe are not items for our consumption; they are, like us, sacred and beautiful creations of God. I strive to care for creation in many different ways, whether it’s taking a group of students to participate in a creek clean-up (to keep local trash from being carried to the Chesapeake Bay) or simply stopping to pick up a single piece of trash as I walk from the parking lot to my office each day. I am passionate about reducing/reusing/recycling at home, at work, at church… everywhere!
-Submitted by Rev. Kendra Grimes, Chaplain & Director of Church Relations, Randolph-Macon College