Thought for the week - 19 October 2007

It gets us talking

In polite conversation there are many topics that we are meant not to raise.  Money, politics and religion are three such subjects that we are advised we should avoid, which just about leaves us with the weather!  This year we have had plenty to talk about when it comes to a discussion of the weather.  There has been the cold wet summer and of course the floods in July.

As soon as talk gets round to the poor weather we have suffered this summer then we quickly get on to global warming.  Is the run of poor weather the result of global warming?  You don’t need me to add to the raft of articles and programmes on the subject; I am sure you all have enough information to make up your own minds about what is happening to our planet.  What I do know is that we are all responsible for the planet and are called to be its stewards.  From the dawning of time, as we are reminded in Genesis, we are charged with caring for the earth.

This time of year will see many people gathering for Harvest Festival Services that celebrate the stewardship of many.  When we come to Harvest Festival we are celebrating the stewardship of those who work the land and provide us with our daily bread.  As we celebrate that all is safely gathered in we are coming as people who are thankful for the hard work that has made it possible for us to eat every day.

If you have or are planning to join a Harvest Festival Celebration spare a thought for the fact that we all have a part to play in exercising the God given task of stewardship.  This means we need to think carefully about many aspects of life.  How long has your computer been on for before you came to look at this website?  Or where do you buy your green beans from?  I recently listened to a debate about whether we should buy green beans grown in Kenya.  After all the production provided wages for the people of that land, but the distribution contributed to greenhouse gases (although the warmer climate and the more fertile soil meant the beans can be grown with lower inputs of fuel and fertilizers) and then of course what about the growers of vegetables in this country.

This humble story of the green bean should remind us that being wise stewards of the earth is not an easy task; but the earth is the Lord’s and we are given it to enjoy for today but also to hand on to the next generation.  We are called to act wisely and responsibly in our God given task to care for and be stewards of the earth.

David Nichol

Vicar of Holy Trinity and St. James’ Churches in Malvern