Camp is a natural place to incorporate ways of living that are healthy, have less impact on the environment, and that are sustainable. A new intern program may start here next fall where 4-8 young adults will spend a year focusing on Christian spirituality and care for creation. While our very successful environmental education program and our ministry have largely been run as separate programs we are expanding the places where they do intersect.
We look at our practices here at camp and the necessities of running a business and know that we can't change everything right at once. While much of our produce comes from a local market with a commitment to local farmers first, we still order food from SYSCO that is not necessarily healthy (I have been begging for the elimination of processed cheese in the grilled cheese sandwiches-blech) nor local. Our chicken strips likely come from chickens raised in the large indoor chicken plants where, if you saw them, would probably have you swearing off the eating of chicken. There are many examples aside from food where we just can't be as "green" as we can be due to prohibited costs and logistics
Some look at these inconsistencies and proclaim the whole thing a failure or use it as an argument against changing the way we live. This short-sighted attitude is rooted in the instant gratification culture of today. There will always be areas of improvement. The question to ask isn't, "have we have arrived," but rather is, "are we moving in the right direction?" Step by step we move towards a faith that chooses to live a life fueled by love, including a love for God's creation and our neighbors around the world and in future generations.
Speaking of change and neighbors around the world, my father is currently in the Congo as part of an effort to set up legal clinics for women. If you know anything about the treatment of women in many parts of Africa you probably are tempted to throw up your hands and declare that changing the culture is impossible. Perhaps, if you want it changed overnight. But just as our own society has been changing in how we grant equality to all people so it is possible in all places. My father was involved in the grass-roots movement in this country that began in his youth and now, in his 70's, he is bringing his experience and legal expertise to a country that while it recently adopted a constitution that grants rights to women, needs a grass-roots education and movement towards that ideal.
The change will be gradual but it will change. They are the ripples of the justice and love that impacted this planet in the person of Jesus Christ that cannot be stopped. I am proud of a Father who heard a call and did not let the overwhelming task dissuade him from asking "what steps can I take?"
His own words:
"Yes, things are good here. Spoke to the people attending the Genre and Justice seminar in Lubutu—about experiences in the south and my practice, and then tied it in with the past three days of teaching by Richard. Got a huge laugh with my explanation that I do cooking and laundry at home, and “Regardez moi, je suis encore un homme; je m’habille en pantaloons et pas une robe…” Look at me, I do all that and I am still a man. I still wear pants and not a dress.” Also, talked about change and Obama’s candidacy slogan of “yes we can,” and ended my presentation by asking, “Pouvez vous?” (can you [change]) and received a resounding reply, “Oui, nous pouvons!” (Yes we can)"
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