Now... is the time. A New Year Message from Diane Waddell, Moderator of Presbyterians for Earth Care

Now…is the time.
Now…as we begin this gift of 2012.
Now…as we breathe, and think, and ‘are’.
Now…in this very moment of moments.
The time is now…to reawaken and rejuvenate ourselves, our work/ministry, our relationship to others, and our commitment as caretakers of Creation.

I invite you to personally enhance your way of connecting with Earth. This is could be through prayer, meditation, creative writing or other art forms. Something I have done for a several years is a morning spiritual routine. It includes prayers of gratitude and blessing, Meditation, Tai chi, qi gong (using forms which connect with creation), yoga and other balancing exercises (and ideally meditative readings or walking meditation.) These are helpful to me in enhancing my connection with God, others, and Creation.

With your personal spiritual base as center, continue to reach out to others in your family, congregation, and community. Begin or enhance a special worship space specifically for justice issues…both social justice and eco-justice (since they are intrinsically related). Rejuvenate (or start) your creation care team. Try to keep current in the areas of water, soil, air, food, health, and wildlife (etc.) concerns. (The PEC Advocacy Committee is looking at the causes of climate change, specifically in the areas of hydro-fracking, mountaintop removal, and the tar sands issues.)

It is very easy to get overwhelmed with this; so try to keep centered; connect with God and Creation through breathing and your set routine.

And remember our saints and sages from the past. We are not new at this.

Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179) wrote

Without the WORD of God
No creature has being.
God’s WORD is in all creation;
visible and invisible.
The WORD is living being,
spirit,
all verdant greening,
all creativity.
All creation is awakened,
called
by the resounding melody,
God’s invocation of the WORD.
This word manifests in every creature.
Now this is how the spirit is in the flesh – the WORD is indivisible from GOD.

(Meditations with Hildegard of Bingen, ed. Uhlein, Bear & Co)

Blessings and both peace and passion to you all in this new year. Diane Waddell
Moderator, Presbyterians for Earth Care