Steward Update

I had been dutifully rinsing and reusing my water bottle and avoiding the use of the environmentally hazardous prepackaged water when one day, while I was rinsing at the sink, I asked myself: How much water have I wasted each time I rinsed out my water bottle to reuse it? What a quandry. Honestly, what we need is for someone to revolutionize the packaging industry altogether. Anyone with kids know that on Christmas morning the grotesque amount of toy packaging is really obscene! Why can't we put the dolls in a burlap sack? Chloe had one toy, that once she got all the packaging opened, I had to say: Where is the toy? There was more wrapping than toy!! I still walk about the house lowering the heat and turning off lights and I hope I am being a good steward. That is my goal. That, and to make you laugh about global warming, not that it is funny. What is funny is that we mere humans think we can control the climate. There was a storyline in the 80's on General Hopsital, (back when I used to veg in front of the tv) about some exotic character who could control the weather. So, really I make fun as a way of showing solidarity with Al Gore. He appeared on 30 Rock to mock global warming. It was great. He is such a hoot! I cannot wait until he hosts Saturday Night Live again! By the way, if you are doing something above and beyond to be a good steward, please leave a comment or idea.

Are we getting greener?

Forecaster cuts 2007 hurricane outlook

That's the good news headline from Reuters this AM. We must be doing something right. Or maybe this living thing we call earth has a plan of its own. I love the earth and, at the risk of appearing trite, I love the pillowy sweeps of cloud against the pale blue sky. And I love the way the shadows mingle beneath the shade of a maple tree creating a flickering palette of greens. I am humbled by the earth's majestic mountains, crisp cool lakes, and hurricanes. I invoke the name of Al Gore as I walk through the house flicking off light switches and turning up the temp on the A/C to a balmy 77 degrees. And I think of Sheryl Crow when I stock the toilet paper in the bathroom. I want the earth to be here for my kids and I walk through the house pointing out waste, waste, waste!!! We recycle. My husband drives a wee Saturn to work and we use it as our "date" car for the economy. However, I apologetically admit that I transport the kids around town in a very large van! Well, we have three car seats, you see (state regulation), so we cannot cram it all into the Saturn. I will encourage my kids to do their part. Do I have to rinse out the Ziplocs? But, here's the thing, is it really making a difference in the grand scheme of things? Or are we mere passengers on a magnificent work of art? How much of our ego is involved in propagating the idea that we control the earth's destiny? Are we still free to believe that there is a Creator who said "Let there be light!" Is England flooding because we use disposable diapers? If I eat local grown only, will this downward spiral to doom end? This all remains to be seen. One last thought. Did you know that Earth Day was started in San Francisco, the city of Saint Francis, to bring about peace on earth? I did not know that. The founder prayed that every year St. Francis Day and Earth Day would "bring a new sense of identity with the whole human family and a commitment to see peace through understanding and love -- the love that Jesus revealed." May we combine our actions with our prayers and create a lasting Peace on earth. Now, that is something I think each of us can work together to do. And if, in the process, we stop the hurricanes, floods, and volcanoes, then wouldn't that be something!