"Naty Bumppo"...continued
Part II
In James Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers, Judge Marmeduke Temple and his cousin have built one church, St. Paul's Episcopal, for the frontier village of Templeton (Cooperstown, N. Y.). An impoverished Episcopal missionary, The Rev. Mr. Grant, is called to serve this outpost of the fairly new Episcopal Church in America. Since this divine must struggle to win over Protestants unfamiliar and uncomfortable with even Low Church ritual, today's reader should not expect him to fervently preach sustainability; that's Natty's job.
The villagers, having won the battle against the migrating pigeons, take an equally frenzied approach to a night fishing expedition. In Otsego Lake, they use seines (large fishnets) to haul in thousands of fish, most of which are left to rot. While the Judge is saddened at such waste, Natty declares this practice, "the sinful kind of fishing."
Laws, such as Judge Temple might have envisioned, have helped keep this region with its small villages, farms, lakes, rivers, and forests a model of the Picturesque. Otsego Lake, while now declared "under stress," is a reservoir for Cooperstown with its Baseball Hall of Fame and other tourist attractions.
Picturesqueness, however, was not for the uncompromising Natty Bumppo, who abandoned the too civilized Templeton for the true wilderness of the West. There, he would spend his final days as a trapper in Cooper's The Prairie (1827).
Currently, with an exploding deer population in Notheastern Pennsylvania, modern Natty Bumppos are prowling the woods with firearms which Deerslayer would have recognized. One such hunter, Seamus McGraw, wrote in the New York Times, Dec. 25, 2011, about hunting with a flintlock rifle. While no Hawkeye, McGraw does give careful thought to the moral issues surrounding his actions. Natty couldn't have said it better.
"Review"...continued
Developing countries understandably seek the same material standards as the developed world, but to achieve material parity would mean over production which would devastate the environment. She does not really address population growth within the framework of sustainability, but she does look to Japanese cultural traditions for an answer to the quest for more. The Japanese, while today are also polluters, have a concept, mottainai, or "don't waste." In Kenya, the GBM has sought a government ban on plastic bags similar to one in Japan. Like other environmental groups, GBM preaches the 3Rs: reduce, recycle, reuse.
Scripture and the Environment
Throughout the book the author shows her respect for other ideas, and while she is not given to either/or (binary) thinking, she and GBM members are careful to approach fundamental groups gently. Maathai, however, feels strongly that people should not simply await divine intervention, but should act. She questions an American song popular in Africa, "This World is Not My Home," as she feels people have misread Revelation and, therefore, are not interested in preserving the earth. Her interpretation (exegesis) of Revelation along with passages from Isaiah and Ezekiel, serve as a call to environmental action now.
Among the leaders she cites who promote ecology and religion is John Grim of Yale, who gave a Bauer lecture sponsored by St. Andrew's. When considering the fourth core value of the Green Belt Movement, "The spirit of service and volunteerism," one thinks not only of Team Uganda, but also of H.O.M.E., Serendipity, St. Andrew's Cares, Habitat for Humanity and other mission work. In this respect, St. Andrew's seems aligned with Maathai's call for replenishing the earth...now.
(A copy of Replenishing the Earth has been placed in Farmer Hall for anyone wishing to read it. More on this movement can be found online.
"Green Sabbath"... continued
community, in the town of Madison, and beyond. One tremendous source of inspiration in our backyard is the Forum for Religion and the Environment. Hoping to pick up some good information to share with all of you at St. Andrew’s, Audrey Scotti and myself attended the Fall Forum on Religion and the Environment aptly entitled this year, “A Sacred Trust” at Church of Christ, Congregational in West Hartford. While I spent some of the evening learning tactics and about resources for greening churches and homes, much of the forum offered opportunities for rich reflection. John Grim, a scientist from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, opened the forum with a passionate keynote speech suggesting how a deeper understanding of Native American Indian spirituality might inspire us to live more lightly on the planet. (The recent Shumann lecture by our own Don Rankin echoes Grim’s sentiments so be sure to grab Don at coffee hour and ask him about this if you missed his talk.)
The highlight of the evening though was an unsuspecting workshop called “Green Sabbath” where we considered what God really wants for us. We were assured that God wants us to slow down to appreciate and connect with nature. As we revere the great abundance in nature with which we have been gifted, we become more thankful. From that place of reverence and renewal, it is easier to step out and take action.
As I drove home that evening, reflecting on the concept of Green Sabbath and pledging to revisit my commitment to live more lightly, I had a personally and deeply embarrassing moment as I recalled my state of mind when the conference began earlier that afternoon. Arriving in West Hartford fifteen minutes early and not one to squander opportunity, I did not go straight to the church. You see, my favorite clothing store was right around the corner. An experienced “speed shopper” (there never seems to be enough time to do the things we love these days) I quickly rummaged through the racks and purchased a new skirt and top and yes, still arrived at the conference on time.
Typically, this random shopping act would not render me embarrassed but tonight a heavy guilt enveloped me as I made my way home to Madison. I realized that I had no need for what I purchased. Not really. I do have clothes in my closet but I really wanted something new for fall. While I had received a small discount, I had overspent on the purchase because of my ‘got to have it now’ mentality. Although I had justified the need and the cost, I had not even considered that the fabric was made from non-renewable fossil fuels and treated with various toxic chemicals. Further, it was probably not made in accordance with Fair Labor laws and I’m certain that it travelled thousands of miles to get to me. For most of us, this wouldn’t be a big deal. We make these routine purchases every day. However, my job involves telling people how to make environmentally preferable purchasing choices at Yale. (I hope that you are seeing the irony here!)
We all get our wake up calls in different ways, and that day, I got mine. What I’m happy to report is that the conference peeled back yet another layer from the onion to reveal a few simple truths. It’s all gift. It’s ours to be thankful for. It’s ours to take care of.
In this spirit, I invite you to join me in pledging with your hearts to step out in gratitude and pledge to live more gently in this world. This pledge is not about money. It’s about grace. Think about it. Pray about it. Then log in here to make a prayerful, confidential commitment.
More links...continued
Biomass Energy Research Association