Let Peace and Justice Flow
Image shows a collage of nature scenes with a green square in the center that reads ‘Season of Creation.“
Season of Creation 2023
Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for creation. We are co-creatures and part of all that God has made. Our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.
When I had the honor of attending the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Youth Gathering last year in Germany, I was struck by the way Christian siblings from around the world courageously shared with each other their hurts, struggles, and wounds. A topic that came up a lot, especially from churches in the Global South, was the heavy impact of climate crisis and environmental degradation. It was a call for those not-yet-so-terribly impacted to listen and pay attention. And a plea for Christians from the Global North – from rich or colonizing countries – to do something within their own governments to make change.
I already think about climate crisis a lot, but this gathering put me more in touch with my interconnectedness with the global community, and more clearly aware of my social location within it. I live in the country that produces the second most CO2 emissions in the world. The CO2 emissions of our military alone are higher than the total emissions of many countries. The capitalistic demand of my home country for more comfort, more efficiency, more production, necessitates the unsustainable extraction of resources from the earth. It is hurting me, and it’s hurting the whole human family.
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
(Amos 5:24)
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s Season of Creation. The global ecumenical committee that gathered resources for this year’s observance emphasizes the need for Christians to join the flow of God’s justice and peace, trusting that the river of life brings hope out of despair. The central symbol for this season is a mighty river, reminding us that alone, we can not change the world, but together God gives us power– just like a torrent moves mountains.
To talk about climate crisis can bring up a lot of feelings:
Fear – The situation has been dire for a while, and nothing is changing.
Discomfort – What will need to change, and what if I don’t like it?
Guilt – Am I doing enough to help?
Anger – What am I supposed to do! This is out of my control.
Despair – It feels like this will never get better.
Apathy – I can’t make a difference, so why would I try?
It is a difficult topic that must be treated with care. That’s why we are taking our time – four weeks from September 10 to October 1, 2023 to enter the Season of Creation with grace and love for ourselves, each other, and the earth. We will endeavor to speak honestly about the earth’s pain, pray to encounter hope deep enough to meet our despair, and ask for God to transform the earth towards justice and peace.