Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Earth Day - Stopping Short

So, it's Earth Day today. I have never been a big celebrator of Earth Day, but I am intrigued by people who do celebrate this 'holiday.' To me it really just seems like it is stopping short - no, not in the same was as the Seinfeld episode. It reminds me a lot of what Paul writes in Romans 1:25 which says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

For me, the fact that this day even exists is a reminder to not stop short. To not worship the things that God has created rather than God himself. The Bible affirms that the things God has created are good, but we miss the point when we give those things praise rather than the person who gave those things to us for our use and enjoyment. May we press forward to the giver of all good things. We are too easily satisfied.

I am reminded of a famous C.S. Lewis quote where he said, ""It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." May we not be so satisfied with the gift, that we miss the giver. May our desires grow that we will long for so much more!

2 comments:

Dan Van said...

I can see where people take it too far. It seems like you are coming on pretty strong though in terms of it being a bad thing. Undoubtedly there are going to be extremist's who take it too far, but I don't think that means we have to label it as being a bad thing.

Perhaps it just serves as a reminder for people, christians and non-christians, to be better stewards of the earth. Or even as a common ground where Christians can reach out to people by a common desire to "be green" (for lack of better words).

I agree that we are to be looking to the creator rather then the creation; but, we are also accountable as stewards of the creation.

humbly,
Dan

Dan Van said...

qualifier...

I am not saying that the extremist are good. Just saying that Earth day in itself doesn't need to be labeled as bad..