"Let a joy keep you.
Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by."
(Carl Sandburg)
"Do not look for rest in any pleasure,
because you were not created for pleasure:
you were created for Joy.
And if you do not know the difference
between pleasure and joy,
you have not yet begun to live."
(Thomas Merton)
The last year has taught me a lot, considering that a year ago, I wasn’t entirely sure what it was that an Eco-chaplain did. Truth be told, I am still living into that question.
Last summer, when I renewed my ordination vows and professed myself an “Eco-chaplain,” I made four declarative statements about how I am envisioning my Right Work and the spirit with which I envision myself going about it. The statements are a bit bold – aspirational, I’ll call them – but they are also simple and straightforward:
- to remind us all of our True Nature (that we’re inextricably connected to everything in this universe)
- to act and serve on behalf of all species (eco-justice exists when even the smallest are celebrated, revered, honored)
- to “allow in,” rather than close down (each moment invites new breath, new vision, new action)
- and finally, to do this work with JOY.
I have spent the last 12 months referencing these four “aspirations” frequently, and they are serving me well. They are humbling and provocative teachers. I will share a few quick stories with you, to illustrate what I mean.
Last February, I had the pleasure of attending the Forum on Religion & Ecology Conference at Yale. The situation at Yale is unique in that the School of Forestry is located across the road from the Divinity School, and it is possible to obtain a joint degree. I find this simultaneous emphasis on religion and ecology in an Ivy League setting to be surprising and wonderful. Others did too; it came up during an open meeting at the Conference.
Along the way, a hand was raised asking why the Yale School of Management was not also sponsoring the event. To me, it seemed like a good question. However, it was met however with an audible “Hissssssss” throughout the room. Oh my! Clearly, the Naturalists and Theologians who had gathered did not like the idea of having MBAs in their midst.
I was instantly miffed, and then just as quickly surprised by my reaction. Not that long ago, I had been among those who felt highly protective when it came to the presence of business – much less anything sounding remotely “corporate” – in such settings. In the spirit of all things being connected, however, I have come to appreciate the relevance of allowing everyone a spot at the table.
In the last year, I have experienced first-hand some incredibly powerful moments with those “working for the man,” those who want change… and are bringing it to their workplace.
Let me be clear: I value clear boundaries, and it is important to set them. That said, with corporations as powerful as they are, they are run by an enormous percentage of humans, all of whom want quality of life on this planet now, as well as for their children’s children. This is our True Nature.
Finding a path that invites us to bring our True Nature to all we do – especially our 40-hours-plus on-the-clock – is such an obvious, yet revolutionary idea.
Speaking of revolutionary, I am reflecting now on the movements we call Eco-feminism and Eco-spirituality. They brought the much-needed pathos to the logos of “Stewardship,” and, “Caring for Creation.” The ecofeminist and ecospirituality writers and thinkers have invited us to see, smell, taste – encounter!!! – nature as ourselves.
With their wisdom, we have been encouraged to connect with our grief, and to acknowledge our guilt, anxiety and the disconnection we have felt at times from Mother Earth and the home She provides us. The absence of justice is also a common theme in these movements. They remind us of how outrageously we have behaved during our evolution on this planet, and they call us to action.
The contributions and impact of these movements is deep. Yet in the last year, I have found myself reacting to them with a degree of impatience and dissatisfaction. Why might this be?
The paradox is this: our planet as we know it is in great decline and crisis, and so are humans. Attaining greater sustainability for the planet means more than a thriving environment. It means a thriving culture, a just society and a healthy, fair economy. I don’t know what it will look like, or entirely how we will get there…or even IF we will get there.
Here's the complexity that I—a gainfully-employed middle-class nature-loving white woman living in America—am coming to understand: when humans are without food, or scrambling to pay a mortgage, or marching to be granted a legally-recognized marriage, or living in a war-ravaged country, or feeling threatened that their land and culture are at risk of being obliterated by an entity stronger than themselves, the redwoods and the polar bears and the honeybees may not stand a chance because people feel they have bigger (mercury-loaded) fish to fry.
All of this is highly troubling…and an incredibly great opportunity. What if eco-justice nudges us to turn a 360, and we begin to take care of the planet because we are taking care of each other?
...Alright, so how?...
It is easy for us, in the enormity of all we face, to close down, admitting powerlessness. This familiar and understandable reaction requires an antidote…fast! In 2008, in addition to our meditation and centering prayer practices, and the silence and stillness that they bring us, so too must we incorporate action in our spiritual practice. Dag Hammarskjold, Christian mystic and 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations, said, "In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action."
And take heart, any who feel fear rising upon hearing the word, "action." Being an activist—a powerful and prophetic stance—need not be marching, demonstrating, or fasting. (I have a number of thoughts on this, but that's a different column... ) Activism begins with one small act; a nano-practice.
For the last year, I have had the profound privilege of facilitating retreats where I am speaking with the participants about “nano-practices.” This sounds technical, and it is based on a great deal of theory, but its essence is an exceedingly simple truth: small actions result in big impacts.
Take, for example, one of the participants at a retreat last Spring – I’ll call him Mark. I asked Mark what one action – one behavior change – he wanted to exercise in effort to bring greater sustainability to his life and the planet. Mark said, “I’d like to spend more time with my family.”
“That sounds great,” I said intrigued, “How does it help the planet?” “Well,” Mark schemed, “….one night a week, we’ll turn the t.v. off and go for a walk, as a family.” I nodded, liking where this was going, “We’ll save electricity and spare CO2 emissions by having the television off; we’ll be out in the park getting exercise and enjoying nature together…AND!” Mark was getting pretty excited, “we’ll also pick up litter while we’re out walking. Any recyclables we collect, we’ll cash in and give the money to a charity.”
Small actions; big impacts.
I am excited to tell you these sorts of stories are catching on in pockets across the United States…and probably beyond. For me, these stories demonstrating small shifts in behavior point to our ability, as humans, to “allow in,” rather than “close down.” Do you find this as hopeful as I do?
This warm feeling in my chest brings me to my final point: the importance of doing this work with JOY. A Christian theologian, Frederich Buechner, said it so well: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep joy and the word’s deep hunger meet.” You see, the real secret to taking action—[and I feel strongly that activism is defined as much by the peace-marching, protesting activist as by the devoted nano-practitioner who experiences a ripple over time]—is that it works best when our actions bring us joy. Mother Earth wouldn’t have it any other way; it is written in the scriptures of every Faith Tradition I can think of.
Martin Buber wrote, “The beating of the universe is holy joy.” Fear, grief, anxiety abound, and still holy joy underscores it all. The planet has made her aches known and the scientists have let humanity know we have a limited amount of time to act.
The world is hungry, and it is calling to your deepest joy. As Lord Byron once wrote, "Let your joy be unconfined! On with the dance!" This is my prayer for each of us.
May you be moved to act boldly, and to live and serve from the place of your deepest joy.
On with the dance! Amen!
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1. A film: RENEWAL: Stories from America’s Religious-Environmental Movement
2. An article: "Why Bother?" (Author Michael Pollan wrote this challenging, inspiring piece that appeared in the New York Times in April)