Sustained, sustainable

Thanks those of you who were able to join us for our drinks and discussion session this month - we had enthusiastic and wide range conversations on the subject of sustainability, reflecting on Psalm 104 for inspiration as to why Christians should care about the issue.

The psalm (a kind of poem) describes a world set in motion and sustained by God; a Creator who has crafted a carefully ordered masterwork:

"[The LORD] makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work."

There is a clear sense of structure to this creation, with seasons marked by sun and moon - darkness to benefit creatures of the night and sun for those that labour by day. This is no tame landscape, roaring lions and prowling "beasts of the forest" are depicted seeking their prey. Indeed, even the mythical Leviathan - a sea monster feared by ancient sailors - has a place within this complex web.

While the psalmist identifies people within this landscape, humanity represents just one element of this complex tapestry of life:

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts."

Often we think of ourselves as being somehow independent of the world around us, a belief that leads us to mistreat the planet in pursuit of our selfish human ends. This psalm is a useful check to that misconception, reminding us that we are not overlords of creation, but (brilliant, unique and astonishing) components within the same grand system.

Having explored this text, conversations turned to how being aware of our place within such a grand and intricate system should affect our behaviours. What might it mean for our consumption, our travel, our industry? We asked whether our actions had interrupted the carefully ordained patterns and cycles that God had prescribed and if so, what might be done to correct that damage?

One key action from the evening was to email or write to our MPs encouraging them to sign up the Rio UK Declaration. This is a statement drafted by members of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition exhorting the government not to step back from their commitments on sustainable development and tackling climate change. If you haven't already, please do go to the site and fill in your details to tell you own MP that we care and so should they. If you get a response, please share it with the network so we can be encouraged. If you are feeling really inspired, you could even speak to your MP face-to-face at their public surgery!