Opinion

God expects us to take care of our world

Ruth Lilley is concerned about the amount of litter that seems to be everywhere these days, and urges us to take greater care to look after our planet.

In September, I hope to participate in ‘Run Norwich 10K’, so I have been practising. I have not taken part before and thought it might be helpful to include some of the ‘hills’ in Norwich as I train.
 
Early on Sunday, I ran up Prince of Wales Road and it was evident that it had been a busy Saturday night. There was a huge amount of rubbish littering both the path and the road which was being cleared up by council workers. As I weaved in and out of the litter, I considered that by the time more people were up and about the evidence of the busy Saturday night and early hours of Sunday morning would be gone. In that moment, I felt very grateful to those people working hard to clear up the mess that had been made.
 
In Genesis, we read of creation and how God tasked man to look after all that had been created: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Chapter 2 verse 15.
 
As I travelled through the city, It seemed to me that not much care had been taken, and I would not have to travel far on the internet to find information relating to how ‘not taking care’ is damaging our world. Then, I do not have to travel much further on my train of thoughts before the issues of the environment become overwhelming.
 
So, do I stop this train of thought and push it away because, as one individual, I cannot make a difference? Or do I remind myself, that just as Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to take care, I too should take care of my world?
 
If I choose to take care, to find the recycling bin instead of the floor, and to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, then I am choosing to care. My actions make a positive difference. Also, within my sphere of influence, I can make a positive difference. In understanding that the only actions I can control are my own, then by allowing ‘care’ to be the motivator of my actions, others will hopefully notice that thoughtful choices can have a lasting impact.
 
Making the choice to care demonstrates love. In the first book of Corinthians in the New Testament, there is a very well-known chapter about love; as this chapter concludes and the next begins, there is a challenge to pursue love and make it our highest aim.
 
So today, I choose to endeavour to make love my highest aim. I choose to tread the next step, whether walking and running, taking time to take care and hope that those closest to me will see that taking care is an important, impactful choice.

Ruth Lilley teaches at an infant school in Norwich. She also enjoys writing, and writes a regular blog called ‘With Every Sun Comes A New Day.’

The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norwich and Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users. 

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here. 

Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines