Quote of the Day: Two acquaintances of mine, Cal DeWitt—a Christian minister and professor of natural resource management, and David Ehrenfeld, a conservation biologist and scholar of Hebrew traditions—have argued that a key principle of Caring for Creation is the observance of the Sabbath and Jubilee Years. As Cal put it, “We must provide for creation’s Sabbath rests. In Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, God command us to set aside one day in seven as a day of rest for people and for animals.” And David has slyly suggested that the overconsumption of resources and climate change would be greatly abated if we simply stopped all motorized travel, professional work and consumption of purchased goods once a week!
Commentary: If the overconsumption of fats clogs are arteries, the overconsumption of goods in general clogs our hearts and souls. They are not what life is about. Fasting is not mean to “deprive” us; it is meant to enliven us. Who does not feel better when we refrain from eating or buying something we do not need? And even better than that is giving away to someone in need something that we do not need to keep as exclusive property.
Suggested Action #7: Take the Sabbath seriously: rest from consumption and work. Spend one hour every seven hours outside with friends or with other (wild) lives; spend one day even seven days without consuming fossil fuels or purchasing any “goods.” Move from goods to the good all around you.
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Gary Paul Nabhan aka Brother Coyote is a professed member of the Ecumenical Order of Franciscans, a graduate of the Living School, a conservation biologist, orchard-keeper and story-teller.