I came away from the Chautauqua Institution convicted that I can do more and be more than I have been. The pastors and speakers I met all had a strong sense of call. Inspired by the passion of others, I reflected: “What is unique about me and my calling? What do I care about and what can I do about it?”
I have decided to recommit myself to environmental work. Since my childhood, I have felt connected to God in nature and have been concerned about the future of the earth. In high school I wrote a big paper on the destruction of rain forests.
Twenty years later, the issues I cared about then have only become worse. This summer has had such strange weather that people who used to be climate-change deniers are now realizing that climate change is not only real, it is upon us.
One of the things I’m excited about in my new pastoral call is that the congregation where I’m headed, Peace Lutheran in Alexandria, Va., has already shown a commitment to ecological concerns.
I don’t know what it means that I am recommitting. I’ve thought of trying to become a regular blogger re: the environment or redoubling my efforts to work with our D.C. area churches.
But I also have a hunch that as important as inspiration and thoughtful conversation are, I will have to get myself and others more involved in the political realm.
I figure putting it out there in the public will help me actually commit to it. So here goes.
Originally posted Aug. 22, 2012, at Barefoot Pastor. Republished with permission of the author. Find a link to Sarah Scherschligt’s blog Barefoot Pastor at Lutheran Blogs.
