Appreciating Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth

                                                                          Christi Belcourt

Three weeks ago we were aware that COVID-19 numbers were rising and another lock-down felt imminent. We decided to visit the McMichael Canadian Collection Art Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario, a wonderful gallery in a magnificent setting. The visits are timed to reduce risk and it felt as though we had the place largely to ourselves -- I suppose we did.

For a second time we enjoyed the retrospective celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Group of Seven painters. Our first visit was back in BC (before COVID) and it was helpful to have a second amble through, eight months later.

                                                         Christi Belcourt

We also took the plunge to leave our safe Hastings/Prince Edward County bubble for the exhibit of work by Christi Belcourt, a Metis visual artist. The exhibit is called Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth, a twenty-five year retrospective of her work. We loved what we saw and experienced in the presence of these unique works, many of which convey the natural world in a deeply spiritual sense and with the feel of beadwork. 

The emphasis on the healing and spiritual properties of water was meaningful and provocative, As much as we love the Group of Seven artists, and Tom Thompson, having visited so many of the places they painted, 

Of course the Christian bible begins with Creator and Creation, and Jesus described himself as Living Water. Just the same, these works offered a perspective from another tradition which touched us. Christi Belcourt's creativity and themes were the highlight of this trip.Water has no flag,as she says, nor can it be confined to one spiritual stream.

This was a contemplative time, one which we needed in the midst of so much uncertainty. I hope that lots of people get to see it before the exhibit ends in January

Giving a Hoot About Creation

 

                                                       Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Last week the massive Christmas tree for 2020 was installed at the Rockefeller Center in deepest, darkest New York City. It is about 75 feet tall, but initially got less respect than the meagre Charlie Brown tree from the Christmas special. Critics were quick to point out how lopsided it was, not waiting long enough for it to spread out after being transported from upstate New York. 

Then came the news of the "baby" owl which had been found in the branches, apparently having traveled with the tree from its forest location.  This isn't a fledgling at all but rather a mature male Saw Whet owl, a small species which occurs in New York state and on this side of Lake Ontario as well. His journey may have been improbable and dangerous but he was safely apprehended and returned to a more hospitable environment.

                                                           Saw Whet Owl -- Rockefeller Center

As it turns out, there has been another celebrity owl in NYC lately, a Barred owl which has birders swarming -- flocking? --through Central Park in search of a glimpse. We've seen Barred owls locally and heard them as well, with their  distinctive "who cooks for you?" call.

We humans are becoming increasingly urbanized and disconnected from the ecosystems which are vital to our survival. So owls become rarities in our midst, and we forget that trees are habitat, not just ornamental. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was obviously habitat for birds before its re-purposing, and perhaps it should have stayed that way. 

I notice that its called a Christmas tree in news stories, rather than a holiday tree. As Christians we celebrate that God became human, entered our habitat for the healing and redemption of all that lives, including winged beings. Was there an owl in the vicinity of Christ's Nativity? There are ten owl species in the land of Jesus' birth, so you never know. 

                                                  Barred Owl -- Central Park, New York City

Olive Trees & the Absence of Peace

Grass burns in an olive grove after Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters during a Palestinian protest against Jewish settlements, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 16, 2020. REUTERS

 I will heal their disloyalty;

   I will love them freely,
    for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
    he shall blossom like the lily,
    he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.[b]
6 His shoots shall spread out;
    his beauty shall be like the olive tree,
    and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.

 

Hosea 14:4-6 NRSV 

Today my Lion Lamb blog addresses the ongoing destruction by Israel of Bedouin settlements in the West Bank. These are not the only areas of the West Bank under what the Unite nation deems as the illegal disruption of areas by the Israeli military in some cases, and by settlers in others. . Palestinian communities have been harrassed and their agricultural land, including orchards have been destroyed. This is all to make way for settler communities which are now home to more than 400,000 Israelis. 

Recently I read of yet another grove of olive trees which had been burned, and that during the Fall harvest at least 1,000 trees have been destroyed. This is a grim loss of livelihood for orchard owners, but there is also the symbolism of olive trees for Palestinians and for Muslims. The olive tree is sacred and is often depicted on prayer mats, with a lantern in the branches. Olive trees are also important in Judaism, with the olive branch as a symbol of peace. There is a bitter irony that the olive tree is represented on the insignia of the Israeli Defense Forces. 

There are Jews who condemn this incursion on Palestinian land and some have assisted in the planting of replacement olive trees. Over the years Rabbis for Human Rights has donated saplings to Palestinian communities and members have acted as monitors and human shields during the harvest. 

If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, 

you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them.

 Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. 

Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?

Deuteronomy 20:19

The Hebrew scriptures have plenty of references to olive trees, and the beloved Psalm 23 speaks of God's tender anointing with the oil pressed from olives. There is also instruction not to destroy fruit trees even in times of conflict. 

As Christians we are aware that Jesus' last night before his crucifixion was spent in the olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane which still stands in Jerusalem. 

I have written before of my dismay about this senseless destruction and I feel that we need to be reminded again and again that this is happening still. God of the three Abrahamic faiths, please bring this to an end. 

Screen shot from 5 Broken Cameras documentary 

Online Blessings and Curses

We might argue that online ordering and delivery is a "blessing in disguise" in the midst of a pandemic. Vehicles roll into our quiet court of nine homes on a daily, and sometimes hourly basis, dropping off all the stuff we want for daily living and aren't comfortable seeking out in retail stores.

We could also lament that this is a "curse in plain sight" in a number of different ways:

The increase in delivery vehicle traffic.

An increase in packing waste heading to recycling and landfill.

The disposal of online returns as garbage rather than resale or re-purposing.

The disproportionate accumulation of wealth by a few, such as Amazon's Jeff Bezos, while employees work for low wages. 

This should matter to us all, and as Christians we can ask what are the best choices (including buying less) which are consistent with our respect for Creation. 

I was interested to see that the delivery company, FedEx, chose Toronto for a pilot project to use electric cargo bicycles for deliveries as an alternative to CO2 belching vans and trucks. There are only three of the ebikes so far, but the experiment which began in July is going well according to FedEx project manager, Jeff Gilbert. Here in an excerpt from a piece in Canadian Cycling Magazine:

Gilbert says Toronto was perfect for this project for a number of reasons. The large urban population growth has sparked an increased demand for curbside delivery which, in turn, has led to increased curb delivery congestion. The gridlock traffic also isn’t helped by the constant construction in the city. “In a few years Toronto will be number two for skyscrapers in North America,” notes Gilbert. Currently, Toronto is officially the fastest growing metropolitan area in North America.

He also points out that Toronto has recently made efforts to expand its bike lane network, which now covers 627km of roads. “We’re the first city in North America to have FedEx cargo bikes,” says Gilbert. “This project has opened up conversations around the globe with other cities trying similar things, it’s really exciting.

I hope this sort of alternative, along with electric delivery trucks, will become the norm rather than a curiosity. The ebikes are built in Copenhagen, Denmark, where cycling is a fact of life, including for the daily commute.Every community can ask whether their efforts to provide infrastructure are an adequate response to the challenge of the Climate Emergency. It's encouraging when industry is part of the solution. .  

Our desire for a world in which we "live with respect in Creation" must be translated from an aspirational phrase in our UCC New Creed into the practicalities of daily life. This seems to be a step in the right direction -- or is that a revolution? I'm counting the ebikes as a blessing rather than curse. I'm relieved that FedEx is installing winter tires!

Royal Groundlings?

 

 

The Crown -- Season 4

A lot of us have found solace in the offerings of various streaming services since the beginning of the pandemic, tethered by Netflix but venturing into other previously unknown realms for our viewing pleasure. It's interesting what we'll watch when other forms of entertainment have been removed from our lives. All to say, that even though I think monarchies are a bit of a scam we've begun watching Season 4 of The Crown. We're moving into the most recent era which includes the unlikely duo of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana Spencer.

In an early episode of this season called The Balmoral Test, both of these women are guests at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth's summer cottage, if a 19th century stone estate house on 50,000 acres can be considered as such. It was and is a refuge for the family where they love tramping about in woods and on moor, riding a horse here, shooting a stag there.

The story-line in  the episode is that Thatcher came totally unprepared for being outdoors and considered the visit a waste of her valuable time in running the country. Diana, on the other hand, showed up with sensible shoes and was loved by the royals for gamely seeking game. This sealed her fate as an approved candidate as wife for Charles, the heir to the throne, poor soul. 

                                     Scene from The Crown, Diana Spencer and Prince Philip

Who knows how accurate the  notion of the "Balmoral Test" actually was, and what actually transpired during those visits. I do find it heartening that this place which is adjacent to wildlife preserves has been a source of solace for the royal family for generations, given how stultifying so much of their existence seems to be. Queen Elizabeth was there this past summer although she was not able to attend church as she usually does on Sundays because of COVID restrictions. I wonder if she has her own theology of the Creation, given that she is a person of faith? 

Prince Charles, who was certainly a cad as a husband to Diana, has a strong commitment to environmental issues, His estate called Highgrove has 15 acres of organic gardens and is managed to support wildlife. 

Hey, we are all Groundlings, whatever our station in life. Our expressed affection for the world which God has created may not be the source of anyone else's curiosity, but we all pull on our hiking shoes one foot at a time!

                                        A younger Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral 

Protecting our Conservation Authorities

During the eight months of the Coronavirus pandemic we've spent more time outdoors than in any other year of our lives. We may have paddled for the final time in 2020 (I never say never) we were out on the water nearly 50 times. We cycled a lot and we walked, too, particularly in early Spring and into the Fall. By my count we've visited nine conservation areas in three different Conservation Authorities, and an equal number of Provincial Parks.

We have been keenly aware of the restorative power of the natural world and we have expressed gratitude to God, the Creator, countless times as we've rambled about. We have certainly noticed that a great many others have chosen to head outside as well, across the generations. We are early risers so we are often alone, or close to it, but these areas and parks get busy quickly. The more popular places were sometimes closed to visitors by mid-morning because of the volume. 

We are blessed in Ontario with the number of parks and areas. The Conservation Authorities have multiple roles, not only providing recreational spaces but monitoring water levels in watersheds and ensuring that guidelines are observed to ensure the health of ecosystems.

It seems almost incomprehensible to me that the Ford government has already reduced funding to Conservation Authorities and has now introduced legislation which will curtail the activities of the 36 Authorities in the province for both water and land management. According to a release by Ontario Nature, the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) has prepared a preliminary analysis of Schedule 6, outlining the proposed changes and their implications. One of the key concerns is:

• Narrowing of the scope and powers of Conservation Authorities, impeding the achievement of the overall purpose of the CAA, which is to “provide for the organization and delivery of programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in Ontario;”

Unfortunately this is only one of a number of concerns. We should all be concerned that environmental safeguards and initiatives are being undermined by this government. Whether it is loosening protections in the Green Belt or opening up habitat for endangered species such as caribou for mining and logging,or challenging carbon reduction laws, this administration is a disaster. 

                                  Quinte Conservation -- O'Hare Mill 

We need to be vigilant as citizens and particularly as people of faith who want to honour both Creator and Creation. Here is the link to the Ontario Nature website which will guide you to writing letters to the appropriate persons in government expressing your concerns. It takes five minutes and every response matters.

https://ontarionature.good.do/conservationauthorities/send/?fbclid=IwAR3rmYhdziOPUe6IkZNMfm2rY8Mr7b3i1mZDSiuBPTA0j_sFbSa_szOX_Go#action-anchor

The Dalai Lama and the Green Buddha

 

Recently the Dalai Lama was interviewed about his soon-to-be released book in which he claims that if the Buddha was alive today he would be "green", that is committed to care and balance for all living creatures on the planet. The book is called Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal To The World, and was co-authored by German journalist Franz Alt.There is a similarity to the title of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si: Care for our Common Home. 

It's not surprising that this Nobel prize-winning Buddhist leader would be writing about this, even at the venerable age of 84. Hey if David Suzuki can be an environmental activist at the same age, why not the Dalai Lama. 

This got me thinking. To be honest everyone on the planet was relatively green in the 5th century BCE, which was when the Buddha lived. There were approximately 100 million humans spread across the planet in that era, so between the low global population and the minimal carbon footprint people had relatively little detrimental environmental impact. By the time of Jesus there were more like 170 million people, so the same argument could be made for him. Today there are roughly 77 of us for every human who lived in the Buddha's era and 45 or so compared to the time of Jesus. It seems that most of us in the 21st century want to live beyond our ecological means, and in North America we are reckless spendthrifts. The way we live is simply unsustainable. 

Of course, what the Dalai Lama is saying is that if Buddha was with us today he would take up the cause of addressing and reversing the systems which are so destructive to our planetary home .In the book he offers:

 “I... have lived through many of the upheavals of the 20th century: the destruction and suffering brought by war, as well as unprecedented damage to the natural environment. Over-exploitation of our natural resources results from ignorance and greed, and a lack of respect for life on Earth. Saving the world from the climate crisis is our common responsibility.”

In an interview with Channel 4 News in Britain he speaks of how essential it is to find that common ground throughout the human family:“ We need the concept of oneness of 7 billion human beings There is too much emphasis of ‘my nation, their nation,’ and ‘my religion, their religion;’ that really causes all these problems.”

I realize that Pope Francis is also 84 -- what is it with this age? Maybe what they have in common is that they all admire green teen Greta Thunberg! 

Poppies and Renewal of the Earth

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
  That mark our place; and in the sky
  The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below...

In Flanders Fields -- Colonel John Macrae - 1915

When Whole Foods Canada foolishly prohibited employees from wearing poppies on their lapels the public hue and cry was so vocal that management realized that it had free-range egg on its face and quickly reversed this decision. It was remarkable that this symbol of respect for our veterans received  immediate attention and from the Ontario and Federal legislatures with rebukes of Whole Foods from both. 

It is remarkable that the poppy has such a powerful hold on our imaginations more than a century after Canadian John McCrae wrote his famous poem following the death and burial of a friend during World War 1. Poppies were the among the first flowers to return in the scarred soil of battle fields and around the graves of the fallen. This renewal is not unlike fireweed, the pioneer plant which grows after wildfires and cut-overs here in Canada. The seeds lie dormant until some form of disturbance causes them to germinate.

I wonder if we could add (never replace) the symbolism of renewal of the Earth to our wearing of the poppy every November? We see more and more that Creation is in crisis and it will take a monumental effort to find our way out of the gloom. Poppies are symbols of solemnity for loss, of gratitude for sacrifice, and of persistent hope for the present and future. 

It's important to keep in mind that they are living things which grow and blow, and that it's never too late to stir up those seeds of hope. 

Voting for all of Creation

 

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,

    the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas,
    and established it on the rivers.

Psalm 24:1-2 NRSV

Across Canada people are on the verge of passing out as they hold their collective breath regarding the American election. Okay, this may be a bit of an exaggeration, but have we ever cared more about the outcome of an election south of the border, even in anticipation of President Obama's first win? 

There are many reasons for us to hope and pray for the ouster of the Emperor Trump, not the least of which is our concern for Creation. Trump is a climate change denier and his administration reflects this. He has appointed key officials in environmental protection roles whom we might call wolves in sheeps' clothing, except that they are taking gray wolves off the protection list. Many key protected areas are being opened up for oil exploration and development, and guidelines for air and water quality are being reduced or discarded. This week the United States will officially withdraw from the international Paris Climate Accord tomorrow, a decision which Trump made three years ago.

Decades worth of environmental legislation is being dismantled at breakneck speed and the United States has abdicated it's leadership role regarding the climate emergency. Trump has even pathetically mocked teenager Greta Thunberg, an actual leader in the climate movement. 

As people of different faiths and as Christians we are called to "live with respect in Creation" to use the phrase of the United Church of Canada New Creed. Those of us who understand that the integrity and diversity of Creation are gifts from God can pray that we are all able to breathe deeply again, with confidence that those in leadership around the world will act decisively on behalf of the Earth, which belongs to God, and all that is in it. 

Halloween and Nature's Rhythms

                                   Samhain Procession 

There was an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail newspaper this weekend about Halloween by the Irish ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee. He reflects on the Druidic festival of Samhain, which became the Christian All Hallows Eve. He rightly points out that we don't really know how the ancient Celts would have celebrated, although story-telling and fires could well have been part of it all. McKee speaks of Samhain and its successor, Halloween, being liminal moments marking the passage of seasons and time. While he may be overly critical of Christianity in changing the sense of Samhain, I agree that Halloween and Christmas and Easter are all tied to the movements of the seasons:Christmas tagged along on the Winter Solstice and Easter on the Spring Equinox. McKay puts it poetically: 

 Like Christmas and Easter, Halloween’s annual celebration links us to the rhythms of the Earth as it spins through space, leaning into the sun in summer and into the void in winter. We should perhaps pay more attention to this dimension of our annual festivities. The timing of these festivals reminds us that we are part of nature and subject to its spinning rhythms. They remind us that we are nature’s guests here. Thinking we are nature’s masters is the kind of spin that gets you into trouble.

Why wouldn't we readily acknowledge that our forebears in faith made these connections?  I  am convinced that in a time when we have disconnected ourselves from the Earth, to our peril, Christians should be intentional about re-establishing our place alongside God's creatures in their great variety and with the rhythms to which he refers. Why don't we include opportunities to worship outdoors during our "high and holy days" to complement what we do indoors? Sure, the number of participants might be smaller for those worship services, but who cares! By doing so we could honour the Creator whose choice was to live among us in the earthy Jesus?