"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
Near my house, at the end of one of the roughest roads in the area, is a piece of wasteland. No one really knows if it has ever been put to any good use; for as long as we can remember it has been an eyesore: the dumping ground for shopping trolleys and old refrigerators, and a place with long grass that the Council never cuts where shady characters can do their dealings.
It’s neither eyesore nor waste ground any more though – because a group of us decided to turn it into a community orchard. It is now a lovely area, with a winding path that meanders through it, a native hedgerow planted along its borders, and eighteen or so apple, pear and plum trees. We are hoping for our first picking this year.
In Genesis 2:15, God took the person he had created and put that person in the garden to tend and take care of it. It is a beautiful verse and describes our role in relation to the world around us. We are a part of it – we are in it – but we have a role to play in looking after the rest of what God has made. Sadly we often end up making the world messy and dirty, but there are always opportunities to make life cleaner.
Today’s act is about being generous to our environment and helping the world to be a beautiful place in which to live. It starts by going outside and noticing the world around you: the birds singing, the plants growing, the clouds moving across the sky … Where it ends is up to you!
1. Looking after the patch of land around where you live: pick up litter and plant a few bulbs or flowers that will attract bees and butterflies.
2. Joining a local conservation group and take part in what they are doing.
Ruth Valerio
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