I was visiting him recently and we were talking about a kids program on Creation Care that we are planning for this school holidays.
We began talking about what we are doing in our own lives to look after God’s world. He stopped what he was doing and said ‘look at this’.
Going over to his freezer he opened it up and pulled out containers and bags filled with all sorts of frozen food. At the end of each week if he hasn’t used the food in his fridge, he puts it in a bag and freezes it.
This has greatly reduced his food wastage addressing a real need. According to Oz Harvest, ‘Over 5 million tonnes of food ends up as landfill, enough to fill 9000 Olympic sized swimming pools.’
In the Anglican church we are in the season of Lent, a time of preparation for Easter. This Lent I have been reflecting on the brokenness and togetherness of our world.
We don’t have to look far to see the brokenness and the human contribution to this state. Food wastage is just the start. International Women’s Day has just passed and part of the commentary reflected on the issue of domestic violence (as well as the many positive contributions of women).
Evidence that our relationships with each other are broken. Currently, we are faced with the response to bushfires and the new threat of COVID-19 all contributed to by our broken relationship with creation.
Our own levels of worry, anxiety and body image issues are high indicating our relationship with our selves is strained. In God’s word, this reality is said to be connected to the broken relationship with God flowing into all other aspects of life. Brokenness surrounds us.
As we look forward to the celebration of Easter, Jesus stands out as a figure of hope. In him we see God’s work of togetherness. He came not just to deal with our own disruption, but all the chaos of the world.
In Colossians chapter 1 it says, ‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things.’ God is about restoring relationships between people and God, people with people, people with themselves and people with Creation. Faith in Jesus is the first step in this great reconciliation.
In my mate’s freezer, I saw that togetherness. Reconciliation at work. As a Christian he had heard God’s call to care for the world.
His freezer was just one avenue for this work to be done. What do our freezer’s say about us? What does [insert any aspect of life: social media, transport habits, energy consumption] say about us?
There is much work to be done, but following Jesus’ way of reconciliation can bring it all together.
Tim Bowles,
Moama Anglican Grammar