Earth Day

This is a version of what will be in the Clergy view column this Friday

Clergyview Rory Swenson Park United Methodist Church For April 25, 2008

April 22 is Earth Day and Friday is Arbor Day. I wondered how I could best talk about some faithful earth care. In the view of faith this is not only a matter of science, ecological education and political policy. It is a matter of the heart and soul. Stories tend to convey this better than facts and figures. So I share a story from India called the “The Tree and the Parrot.”*

Once upon a time there was a magnificent tree. It was ancient and taller than the others. It had many branches with great limbs and a root system that spread wide over and above the ground. It gave shade in the summer and kept enough leaves in winter to give protection year around. It was rich with fruit and the birds would come and feast in its abundance. Smaller animals would pick the fallen fruit on the ground When the rainstorms came the animals would huddle under the shelter of that tree.
There was also a parrot that had spent its whole life living in that tree It was his home and the bird and tree were such close friends that they didn’t need to talk. They could just be together. They noticed the other birds that chatted in the branches and they heard the stories and songs of others They endured the weather and the seasons. The tree gave its fruit and the parrot gave its company.
One day a hunter discovered that the tree was a great place to hunt the animals and the hunter also needed to feed his family. He shot an arrow with a poison tip and he missed the bird but it hit deep into the bark of the tree. This happened many more times until the tree began to sicken and die. Eventually the leaves fell, the bark peeled off and the branches became brittle. Soon there was very little fruit or it was bitter and small, and the birds could not eat it. The parrot was distressed. But what could he do? The year went on and the tree was in terrible shape. It was practically a great barren stick. Yet the parrot stayed. Other said he was foolish and that he too would get sick and die. But the parrot loved the tree and he could not leave it alone when it was dying.

Now God in heaven, looked down and saw this bright light shining in a corner of the world. This had not been so visible before so God sent messengers to see what was causing this bright light. It was of course, from the dying tree and the parrot that refused to leave.
God was pleased. This was a light of goodness and faithfulness. So much that God was moved to tears and it began to rain upon the earth and many of the tears dropped directly onto the tree. The tears of God brought healing and life and the tree began to come alive again, The rain lasted for three days and nights and when it ended, the tree was tall and vibrant and the wonderful new fruit on the tree was not like anything that had been there before. It was flowering and magnificent.

The parrot was filled with joy and danced and sang in delight. And God looked down to see the light shimmering and dancing. God wept with joy brought on by one of his creatures with such faithfulness and friendship. God felt the goodness of hope washing into the world.
As you ponder the story I will simply add that caring for God’s creation begins with your steadfast hearts, being truly present to the mounting signs of this planet’s ailments and distress; letting your light of example, and relationship and hope be seen. I believe it is pleasing to God.
(I have adapted this traditional story from On Your Mark, p. 155 by Megan McKenna; Orbis Books)

And a quote to share
There is an awe and reverence due to the stars in the heavens, the sun, and all heavenly bodies; to the seas and the continents; to all living forms of trees and flowers; to the myriad expressions of life in the sea; to the animals of the forests and the birds of the air. To wantonly destroy a living species is to silence forever a divine voice.
- Thomas Berry
The Dream of the Earth