The other day I was visiting with an amazing church member who has been battling cancer for some time. Throughout it all she has maintained her sense of humor and an amazing perspective on life - realizing how small we are in the grand scheme of things.
We were talking about caring for creation and sharing some dismay at how so many people (especially Christians) don't seem to "get it." She asked me what I thought was the biggest problem, and in that moment I said "I think we humans have such a limited perspective." For the most part, we are not very good at looking at the bigger picture and considering the long-time ramifications of our decisions and use of technology. We are great at taking a good idea and expanding it to the point that it does damage.
Take, for example, sidewalks. Some cities may have great sidewalks and may be very walker friendly. But for the most part, cities are built for cars and have been for some time. In the city I live in sidewalks on main roads are almost non-existent. In neighborhoods, they start and stop with no rhyme or reason. Part of my block on the side opposite me (not the whole block - part of it) has a sidewalk, but nothing on my side of the street. It's pretty ludicrous. Why isn't the whole town laid out with sidewalks first so we know everyone can get around on foot (which we learn to do long before we drive mind you) before we worry about cars?
Walking more would help decrease smog and harmful emissions. Walking is cheaper - free to be precise. Walking is safer. Walking is very healthy. Walking is the transportation we were naturally created to utilize. Why can't we see this? Let's expand our perspective.
Weekly Green Thought
"Without earth, there is no rain, and without the rain, the earth cannot endure, and without either, humans cannot exist." Genesis Rabbah 13:3 (third-fifth centuries)
No comments:
Post a Comment