04-24-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 24, 2025
Yesterday was Earth Day, and the day before that, I planted three trees. I’m not bragging. They were given to me, and when you’re given trees, there is only one thing to do—find a good home in the dirt. And though I watered them immediately after planting, I have been thrilled with the rain we have received the last 24 hours. All my life, I have been intrigued by trees, and planting and successfully growing them (I’ve not always been successful) has brought me great joy. And though my little effort of planting trees and giving a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation each year to plant more trees is not making a massive difference in the climate crisis, doing nothing is not an option. As I think about Jesus, there had to have been thousands and thousands of people who were needing healing in just the three years of his ministry, yet we know he didn’t come close to healing that many. What we do know is that he cared for those he met along his journey. I’m sure he worried about those who he would not meet. Yet he could only do what he could do, and he modeled for us what it means to do what we can with what we have with those we meet along the way. All the problems we face, and there are many, can be overwhelming. I hear people say often, “I don’t know where to begin.” Sadly, those words leave too many people standing on the sidelines of service. What would happen if just half those people found one thing to do for one hour each week? How many millions, maybe even billions of hours would suddenly be offered at no cost for the purpose of helping, healing, and transforming our world? Of course, another part of the problem is how we have made debating social issues into a primetime sport. Too many people confuse actually doing something with arguing about whose fault it is or why those who choose to do something offend them. Let’s feed a few people, plant some trees, make sure more people have access to clean water, and help give voice to the voiceless. If you still don’t know where to begin, I would invite you to spend a little time in prayer. I feel confident that God will show you the next step. Of course, it will be up to you to take that step.

Though the problems are many and immense, I believe you have given us the resources to bring about dramatic change. Encourage us, O Just and Loving God, in the multitude of opportunities to bring alive the Gospel. Amen.