Every Day is Food Day in Canada

On this holiday weekend in Ontario the mayor of Prince Edward County has politely asked visitors to stay away. The beaches of the County beckon but the crowds of sun-seekers have overwhelmed the provincial parks and conservation areas in recent days. 

Those people in the streams of traffic might not notice the farmers' fields as they travel southward from the 401, but agriculture, including wineries, is an important part of the PEC economy, and has been for two hundred years. In an earlier day this unique peninsula jutting into Lake Ontario was known as the Garden County. Barley was grown for brewing across the lake in the United States, then canning factories were established for the export of vegetables across the country. The agricultural focus continued well into the 20th century. While today there are still plenty of crops and some farmers sell at markets throughout the area. people tend to think of PEC as a playground rather than a breadbasket. 

Today is Food Day Canada, an opportunity to celebrate those who produce our food, to buy local products, and to ask grocers to stock produce from the area. We try to buy local whenever we can. This has been an anxious year for area farmers because of the serious lack of rain. And market vendors are contending with COVID-19. 

From a faith standpoint, it would be worthwhile this weekend to consider how important agriculture is in the bible. Jesus told parables about food and those who grow it because he knew that his audience would understand from experience about grapes and grain and sheep.

Even the Apostle Paul uses some agricultural imagery. We can be grateful for those who grow our food and for the blessing of abundance and choice. 

Speaking Tree

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, 

bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God 

and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. 

On either side of the river is the tree of life

Revelation 22: 1-2 NRSV

Our two Trenton grandsons "attend"  a French school (they haven't physically entered the school in months) and I'm constantly amazed by their ability to move back and forth between two languages. Both boys can do mental math in French and English, and the seven-year-old reads well in both. 

The ability to speak more than one language and perhaps several is impressive and seems to be much easier for children. As we age we may be more inhibited (I am) and our brains are less responsive (mine is!) 

It seems to me that along with the languages of ethnic groups and nations there are the languages of the natural world which we are invited to learn as well. I came upon Katie Holden's I

I do consider trees to be sacred and the bible does as well, with many references to the holiness of tree and Godly encounters beneath trees. Not  surprisingly the notion of a tree alphabet delights me and we would all do well to endeavour to speak tree. It's never too late to learn!

Healthy Parks, Healthy Spiritual People

I follow Ontario Parks on Twitter and Instagram, which is worthwhile for a number of reasons. There is lots of helpful info about the 330 parks in the province, photos of places we have visited and cherish, and reflections on the benefits of being outdoors. A recent lengthy and thoughtfull blog post by Tim Tully, a staff member at Awenda PP,  even ventured into the realm of spirituality and got downright religious. 

The park where I work, Awenda, translates from the Wendat language as “voice” and “word.” With a minor twist it becomes Hawendio or “Creator.” Awenda is aptly named.Coming to a park is of itself is an act of faith and hope. The positive experiences gained may well reconnect you and your family to a more meaningful and healthy future.

The next time you’re out walking in a forest cathedral or sheltered by the overarching forest canopy at your campsite, perhaps taking in a breathtaking shoreline view or admiring the behaviour of park wildlife, stop and pause for a moment.

Give thanks.

Creator, cathedral, give thanks...oh my! These are words and phrases which regularly show up in this Groundling blog. My thanks to Tim for including this aspect of what makes visiting parks worthwhile in his Healthy Parks Healthy People Day blog. I couldn't agree with him more . Here is the link to his blog post. The photos here ae included in that blog. 

http://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/a-place-of-natural-healing/

The Beach During Plastic Free July

Yesterday we headed our early to the County (Prince Edward County, to the south of us. The beaches and dunes of this almost-island attract multitudes of visitors to the extent that the two provincial parks and municipal beaches must close public access by midday. We walked a more secluded beach which is about two kilometres long with the waves rolling in a breezy morning. We also sat under a tree and read, looking out to the water.

As we strolled we saw plenty of evidence of a birthday party which may have happened on the beach or kilometres away. It was in the form of mylar balloons scattered along a wide swath. We had a bag with us so we began picking them up, along with other pieces of abandoned plastic. We quickly ran out of room in the bag and probably could have filled at least another one with what we saw. This doesn't take into account the plastic which was buried, or back on the dunes amidst the wild grape vines, or micro-plastic bits, the almost invisible killers of birds and fish. 

We are almost at the conclusion of Plastic Free July and this was certainly a reminder of the insidious presence of plastic almost everywhere. Our couple of hours on the beach were idyllic, and a spiritual experience. All that discarded plastic pointed out that we humans "eat of the apple", in our Garden of Eden and throw away the core without much thought.  I do believe that the Creator invites us into a very different way of reducing our plundering of the world's resources and of "living with with respect in Creation." (UCC New Creed.)

Praying for Rain in 2020

You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.

             Psalm 65: 9-10

My memory ain't what it used to be but I can't recall a summer with more 30 degree days than this one, and it isn't even the end of July. Add to this the absence of precipitation and we have the makings of a drought. We have been teased endlessly in Southern Ontario with forecasts calling for steady rain or thundershowers, only to have them fail in their predictions. on our court there are parched lawns with only the sprinkler system troika maintaining a semblance of green. 

This may already be disastrous for farmers in our region, but should we be praying for rain? I tend to be a skeptic, noting that in the US the days of prayer for rain are often scheduled in states where climate emergency denial is prevalent. Why invoke the Divine Sprinkler when it's a crisis while ignoring the root causes. Then again prayer is always good, but so is paying attention to the science. When we ignore what affects the hydrological cycle we shouldn't go whining to the Creator...or should we? 

The  bible does have prayers for rain including prayers of gratitude when it falls. Other religions have prayers for precipitation as well, including Judaism and Islam. They are an invitation to appreciate rain and never take it for granted. Surely this includes listening to those whose careful study and scientific endeavours point out that climate change may permanently alter the patterns of weather.

Our 21st century prayers for rain can be a form of mindfulness about what makes our H2O planet livable, as well as strengthening our resolve to do what is necessary for positive change. 

We praise You, Eternal God -- God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 
Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel. 
You are the Eternal God, who causes the wind to blow 
and the rain to fall -- 
for a blessing and not for a curse, 
for life and not for death,
 for plenty and not for scarcity.

Jewish Prayer Book

Curiosity, Wonder & Attention in a Daily Journal

I began keeping a personal journal 35 years ago and missed few days since then. I had my day book while in ministry, so recorded the events of my work schedule. My journal has provided the opportunity to reflect on the events of my oft-times mundane, sometimes extraordinary events of my life. 

At some point along the way I began drawing a symbol of the days weather and with the advent of the Weather Network I could add the high or low temperature beneath it. I also began to tuck in observations about the change of seasons and the creatures we might see during outings on water or on trails. 

Some of these observations have been spectacular such as being close to beluga whales or having a pod of porpoises swim beneath our kayaks while on Grand Manan Island. I've recorded seeing the Northern Lights and waiting out the ferocity of Hurricane Dorian in an old house on an island off Newfoundland. As often as not its been the more humble occurrences such as spotting the first Monarch butterfly in the season or a hummingbird at our backyard feeder. Not along ago we were kayaking on a nearby river and I saw a swallow darting about just in front of me. I realized it was chasing a dragonfly which was doing aerobatics to avoid becoming lunch. Of course I noted this in my journal that evening. 



All these notations come and go and most will be forgotten. Yet I feel that with my scribbles  I'm intentionally being attentive to the world around me, honouring God's wondrous world. I will often reflect on what I've seen within the text of my journal, a form of prayer in my estimation. 

Recently I bought the book How To Teach Nature Journaling: Curiosity, Wonder, Attention -- how could I resist. It's an illustrated guide for educators and I've been perusing it with our 7-year-old grandson, a keen observer of the natural world. He has been quite enthused so we gave him a journal with blank pages. He has been drawing and colouring up a storm of creature sightings and maps of our outings. His delight is a tonic for me.

So, Groundlings, might you keep a nature or Creation journal?  Doing so may be a fountain of youth and a spiritual awakening! 

Fridays for Future in the time of COVID-19

This is Friday -- it is, isn't it? -- which means it is another Fridays for Future. Almost two years ago a diminutive 15-year-old Swedish girl named Greta Thunberg began her one-person protest outside the Swedish parliament against the global inaction regarding Climate Change or the Climate Emergency. It seemed quixotic, at best, yet her consistency led to Friday school climate strike rallies of teens and other concerned people, first in her home country, then around the world. A rally and march in Montreal attracted half a million people.

We discovered that Thunberg has a fearless and honest manner of speaking which resulted in invitations to address the United Nations and other bodies. And when she met with Prime Minister she didn't hesitate to say that Canada needs to do far better in addressing carbon emissions which contribute to global warming 

Thunberg is the youngest person ever to be featured as the Time Magazine Person of the Year. She also has an uncanny ability to get under the skin of rather vile, privileged adults, mostly male, mostly white. They mock her age, equating it with immaturity,  and dismiss her as mentally ill. All of them should have their mouths washed out with environmentally-friendly soap. 



The COVID-19 pandemic has ended these massive gatherings but Thunberg's witness and work has certainly not ended. She continues to speak with what I've called a prophetic voice. There has been no connection between Greta's message and faith, yet she does stand in the tradition of the biblical prophets, speaking truth to power despite criticism and scorn. 

Recently Thunberg was awarded the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity which includes a monetary prize of one million euros or more than one and a half million Canadian dollars. What will she do with this windfall? She is giving it away, through her foundation, to worthy environmental causes. I doubt that any of her critics have been that generous, including the current president of the United States with his now defunct phony foundation.  

All of us who read scripture with an eye to the mandate to care for Creation and who follow the incarnate "earthy" Christ can pray for the safety and success of Greta Thunberg, whatever her personal spiritual leanings may be. God the Creator moves in mysterious and meaningful ways. 

https://fridaysforfuture.org/