Do you remember this picture?
A forest fire happened on a mountain in Australia about two month ago.
This picture was taken in the midst of burned forest.
There are a koala and a volunteer, David Tree, in this picture.
This is the description of this news: David found this koala when he was going to somewhere to extinguish the fire with his colleagues. When David found the koala which was alone in a street, David went closely to this koala, but the koala ran away from him. However, the koala stopped running and sat on the heap of ashes. At that time, David went to the koala and then gave him water. This koala drank three water bottles.
Look at a forefoot of a koala.
He put his forefoot on a hand of David.
The koala seems to say that “I trust you” “You are my friend.”
Sometimes, human being seems forget that we are a part of nature.
People separate themselves from the nature although we are the part of the nature which God created.
Also, people misunderstand the nature as our possession. Due to those thoughts which I explained above, people waste resources gained by the nature and destroy the environment. In other words, people have governed the nature during long times.
The reason why people have a sense of a patriarch toward the nature is that human being misunderstood the Bible. Many Christians think that God gave us an authority to govern the nature.
However, this is not true. God’s will is that God gave people just a chance to guard the nature, not an authority to govern the nature.
Therefore, people need to recover our own duty which God gave us.
We are no longer dominators of the nature.
We are guardians for the nature.
We are the part of the nature.
We are friends to the nature.
A forest fire happened on a mountain in Australia about two month ago.
This picture was taken in the midst of burned forest.
There are a koala and a volunteer, David Tree, in this picture.
This is the description of this news: David found this koala when he was going to somewhere to extinguish the fire with his colleagues. When David found the koala which was alone in a street, David went closely to this koala, but the koala ran away from him. However, the koala stopped running and sat on the heap of ashes. At that time, David went to the koala and then gave him water. This koala drank three water bottles.
Look at a forefoot of a koala.
He put his forefoot on a hand of David.
The koala seems to say that “I trust you” “You are my friend.”
Sometimes, human being seems forget that we are a part of nature.
People separate themselves from the nature although we are the part of the nature which God created.
Also, people misunderstand the nature as our possession. Due to those thoughts which I explained above, people waste resources gained by the nature and destroy the environment. In other words, people have governed the nature during long times.
The reason why people have a sense of a patriarch toward the nature is that human being misunderstood the Bible. Many Christians think that God gave us an authority to govern the nature.
However, this is not true. God’s will is that God gave people just a chance to guard the nature, not an authority to govern the nature.
Therefore, people need to recover our own duty which God gave us.
We are no longer dominators of the nature.
We are guardians for the nature.
We are the part of the nature.
We are friends to the nature.
Posts
I agree that we should be good stewards of nature and protect and care for nature as Christian creatures. We do get lost in the administration of the stewardship and focus on it instead of the creatures that we are also a part of.
ReplyDeleteDuring our recent hike into the Angeles National Forest, I had a brief epiphany moment as I sat ona rock and listed to the water and the wind in the leaves. I'd known for a long time that it was in these environments - different from being in more urban areas - that I felt closest to God. But I couldn't reconcile that God would be somehow more present in those natural areas than in a city. What occurred to me as we sat in the beauty of creation was that it was not God who was more present there; it was me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Insuk Kim and Joyce that we need to keep and recover the nature. As a Christian, I think churches need to take active in protest and recover nature, not only on the earth day, but throughout all days of year. We are friends of the nature, not the possessors of the nature.
ReplyDeleteWow I never knew koalas were so huge. It's very true that we always part ourselves from nature. Those from the country are not taken as seriously as those from the city, when we are actually the ones who are ignorant of the true ways of life. It's amazing how much we stand aloof from nature and yet I'm sure every human being is reminded of their oneness with nature when we go up to the mountains to be surrounded by trees, animals, rocks, and streams. Everytime I go up to the mountains I'm overwhelmed by the sense of how 'at home' I feel and how pleasant it is for the body to be midst nature. This goes to show how we are not the ones dominating nature, but we're really only a small part of the bigger picture of nature itself.
ReplyDeleteInsuk- your blog and the picture you posted is a wonderful illustration to De La Torre's statement that, "proper stewardship requires creating a harmonious relationship with nature, as with other human beings (pg. 129)." It is clearly evident that our human relationship with animals has been poor. I know the United Nations has a Declaration of Human Rights and I think there needs to be a universal declaration of animal rights. So, yes, I agree we are guardians of nature. I think when we realize this, then as guardians of God's creation, we will be more intentional about taking care of animals and nature.
ReplyDeleteI saw this picture too and it was so impressive. In Suk, I totally agree with your opinion. The nature is not our possession, but God’s one. To my regret, some ecologists and scholars see that Christianity is the primary cause of today’s ecological degradation. They accuse that Christianity has allowed the human to destroy the nature by advocating the human’s right to dominate the world. Because of this dominion mandate given to human beings by God, they regard Christianity as anthropocentric religion. They may be partly right. I think, however, cause of today’s ecological crisis is not from Christianity, but from human beings desire. As you said, we Christians misunderstood the Bible. The Bible never supports anthropocentricism; rather it strongly emphasizes theocentric thought. Like human beings, the nature is also creature of God. We should protect and care for it as stewards. I firmly believe that the scene in the picture is what God really wants us to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a lot of humans believe that we have dominion over animals. Because they feel that the importance of our lives outweighs the animals it is okay to use them for the betterment of humankind regardless of the condition it leaves the animal in. What I think people are failing to realize is that in destroying the animals and their environments we are slowly destroying ourselves. There are very few creatures (if any, I'm not really sure) on Earth that don't serve a function. Whether we recognize it or not, we need to make the best use of the functions that comes most naturally to all creatures. For humans, our mental capabilities seem to be our best asset. We need to figure out a way to come together and use that gift to figure out a way to make humans and nature coexist harmoniously, recognizing that animals thrive in their natural ecosystems and we should really hesistate before we destroy those ecosystems for profit.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this photo and the reminder of the importance of caring for nature.
ReplyDeleteThe nature around me / us is important. I am fortunate that in my apartment I have a place to feed the seed eating birds and the humming birds. There are many plants for them to sit in and part of each day is taking care of this small space for them.
In return they sing their songs and sit and hover within the garden of sorts that has been made as a part of the area around the balcony and green areas in the yard. We are connected because in the moments of reflection in this quiter space helps me to be closer to the Sacred.
Thank you for the article. These days there are many people who forget that the energy for living is coming from nature itself. The trees, the weather, the colors, the flowers and of course the animals play an essential role in our lives. Often we see humans destroying and replacing them with buildings and factories. Animals are captured and killed for so called safety. I do also agree with all of you we need to protect and nurture the nature.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the article. These days there are many people who forget that the energy for living is coming from nature itself. The trees, the weather, the colors, the flowers and of course the animals play an essential role in our lives. Often we see humans destroying and replacing them with buildings and factories. Animals are captured and killed for so called safety. I do also agree with all of you we need to protect and nurture the nature.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am sometimes torn between the needs of the urban communities, and the demands of nature conservancy in the competition for limited resources, I can appreciate the call to preserve what God has created naturally. Perhaps, Christians have the answer to providing balance to these competing forces.
ReplyDeleteYour right, people are so out of touch with how we affect nature. Well not until something devastating happens and we are reminded of it. But it is so hard for people to appreciate nature. We get so busy with our own life's that we forget what is important and our priorities get skewed. Its like what Bod said that its not God who is not present, but its us who forget to appreciate and be present.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a compelling thought to know that our friends really need us. How easy it is to get rapped up into the hustle and bustle of life, that we often forget about those that make our world go round and round. We take for granted small things like bee's that help to pollinate the flowers, which keeps our plants alive, which keeps our animals alive, which keep us alive.
ReplyDeleteThere is a chain that you mentioned very well, that we are apart of. The nice part is that we have the power to protect this chain, but the sad reality is that we are failing to do so.
By Sangjae Lee
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Insuk. The picture is so impressive. I've never see this picture before. When I'm thinking that because of human's mistake, why animals and trees have to experience sufferings, I'm very dejected. When I was in Korea, I saw a tree in raging flames, which had 500 years old, and thousands of acres were burning because of a light for one's cigarette. A specialist of forest said that to get back that kind of tree and forest, it might be taken over 3oo years. It is true that destroying environment is easy but restoring it is hard.
This was a refreshing blog post!
ReplyDeleteI rarely had a chance to have any pets when I was younger, yet interacting with pets of my friends has always helped me believe that we surely are not to be a dominating creation. If anything, animals have the potential to harm us beyond our ability to harm them, and these "pets" humble themselves in having such a relationship with humans. I wonder how I might be less possessive about certain things in life and learn to enjoy things in its nature. What could we all do to understand, or even step into the thought of, the depth of interconnectedness, like what you all have been mentioning?
God is working for the good in all creation. Are we listening?
ReplyDeleteA very touchy picture Koala's forefoot in David Tree's hand :))))
ReplyDeleteEven the most complex structures and mechanisms have a simple principle; give me what I want and you will get what you need.
The most obvious fact about this p[rinciple is human's body. If you dont take care of yourself, on a long term, you will normally fall sick, and if you don't take remedies, you will become worse... Therefore our bodies have their needs.
That's the case for the nature too, that if we continue being indifferent for the global polution isues, then on a long term, we should be ready to confront the reality which can not refelect on us directly, but it will be reflecting on our grand children for sure.
If we like our grand childeren, then let's like the nature and human being which is the masterpiece of God's creation.
Thank you Insuk for the reminder. I would like to comment on Won's comment about having pets. Although I don't think it necessary that one needs to have a pet to connect with animals I think that is how I truly learned to love and appreciate nature and animals. I grew up with animals in the house and have always loved them. My parents really taught me early on about our connection with nature, animals, and "mother earth". For my parent's it wasn't just a biological connection. That we happen to share this planet with the rest of creation and connected through the web of life. I was taught that in school. But for my parents the connection is deeper. They taught me that we are spiritually connected to animals and the earth. Having pets in turn allowed for companionship with animals as well as teaching me as a child to be responsible for another living being. Through having pets and watching my dad change the garden from high water usage grass to a more sustainable garden full of plants local to Utah my parents taught me how to honor my connection with nature and in essence they taught me to love nature. This is one of the reasons I appreciate process theology. Through the belief in an omnipresent God that calls us into awareness of our inter-relatedness and co-creativity with God the lessons my parents were trying to teach me now seems even more dynamic. I think it is unfair to claim that scriptures teach us to dominate and destroy nature but I do think that traditional philosophy that teaches body vs. spirit dualism has contributed to that mentality. I think that we need to be taught to protect nature. Not just children but everyone. One of the biggest suggestions I have for churches is to start a garden and teach the congregation to tend it. It is amazingly satisfying to get your hands dirty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog! I come to this comment with a laugh, for as I read the blog and previous responses, my 5 month old Pomeranian puppy climbed up on my desk and began to lavish me with puppy-kisses. Simultaneous, my litte 2 month old Pom-Chihuahua miracle puppy (who can still sit in the palm of my hand) began yipping for attention from the safety of her playpen.
ReplyDeleteSinnamon, I love your suggestion about gardens for churches! What a beautiful way to remind people of our part in nature. I have understood this spiritual connection that you refer to for as long as I can remember, despite the fact that I was not taught it. I, too, appreciate process theology for this very reason. I feel a part of all-that-is; I have found it so refreshing to find a Christian concept that incorporated this awareness that exists at the very foundation of my being.
Insuk, thank you for this beautiful picture. I had not seen it. What a touching reminder of our call to be friends will all of creation.
Bob -- I think most of US are listening...is anyone else?
This blog is a great reminder of how often a careless action can be so devastating to nature. The photo is phenomenal! To walk in the forest, watch the ocean waves, observe the sky on a clear night or just to sit on the patio enjoying the sound and sights of birds gives one a sense of the magnificence of God!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, my Dad always had a huge garden, which we helped plant and tend, and harvest. I used to think that when I left home I'd never pick another green bean; but oddly enough when I did get a home of my own, one of the first things I did was plant a garden! There's just something working with the soil, early in the morning when the sun is just rising, before the rest of the world wakes up, that feels close the nature and to God.
Yes, we are stewards of this world and I hope and pray we will do what it takes to save it.