This Land Was Made For Us

School starts this week here in Southern Indiana. Our grandchildren have a very different schedule than we did back in the days when summer vacation lasted from a Memorial Day to Labor Day. Isn’t that when summer is? Things continue to change so here they are going back to school. Short summer for my grands.

One thing that doesn’t change is God.  What God said yesterday holds true today, tomorrow, and always.  If He says it, you can believe it.  God made the Earth and gave its care to man.  Scripture says:  “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Gen. 1:26)  Since we are stewards, our Master (God) will one day require us to give Him an accounting of how we have done with what He has given us (this land). In your opinion, how are we doing?

A friend had posted on Facebook about garbage and littering in our area the same day my son phoned to talk to me about it. My twin grandgirls had been taking a wonderful day camp provided by the Harrison County Purdue Extension. The camp extended their knowledge of our land and nature. Both girls soaked in the information and are now Junior Master Naturalist!  Awesome.  After a canoe trip they cleaned up lots and lots of trash. None of that garbage was dropped by the class but every bit was collected by them. They were being good stewards of our world that Abba has entrusted to us.

My son was so inspired by these Junior Master Naturalists and their duty to our land that after a few hours kayaking he too went on a search for trash. It wasn’t hard, he said.  It was everywhere.  In a short time he gathered quite a bit.  Sad, isn’t it? Why would someone carelessly and irresponsibly throw an empty cup, can, or broken chair away on a beautiful creek bank? Why do people drift by, drive past, or walk over trash? We should stop, collect it, and dispose of it properly. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of this, too. While I might wait and throw my garbage in a can, seldom if ever do I take the effort to clean up after someone else. I should.

It is going to take a joint effort from us all to get our beloved planet cleaned up. Big task, I know, but we could take baby steps. Start by picking up that soft drink bottle or can instead of walking around it. Keep a trash bag in your trunk just in case you get inspired to clean up as you hike. God gave us, mankind, the responsibility of caring for this land. What kind of job are we doing?

We started this with speaking of changes. The truth is we cannot change others but we can change ourselves. We can also change our world.  Think about being a good steward and cleaning up litter. I know I will. It is time for action.  Time to change.  Past time.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” I Cor. 4:2 ESV

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Gen. 2:15 ESV

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” Psalm 24:1 ESV