What are we doing about our disproportionate use of the world’s resources? Do we see unreasonable exploitation in our relationship with the rest of creation? How can we nurture reverence and respect for life? How can we become more fully aware of our interdependent relationship with the rest of creation? To what extent are we aware of all life and the role we play? What can we do in our own lives and communities to address environmental concerns?

To our group, the fact that we consume a disproportionate amount of the world’s resources and contribute accordingly to the world’s waste was not a surprise. We did look at one measure of magnitude: the fact that each US citizen is responsible for the emission of 20 tons of CO² each year, in comparison with Britain’s 10 tons and the rest of the world’s four tons.

Obviously we need to make changes. Our focus was on the how.

We felt that on the national level change was in the air. Both candidates at least have an expressed commitment to lessening global climate change, and the harshness of the economy has pushed many people take measures to reduce their energy use. We see people carrying their own bags into the market every day, and the papers are full of green tips. This is not enough; far more fundamental change in our nation's consumption and zeal for growth will be needed to make real progress, but at least there is a visible start.

There is a lot that we all can be doing, and our time allowed us to only scratch the surface. There seemed to be a sense of relief that our nominating committee may be empowered to create a Green Team (under any name they deem appropriate) that will help the meeting find a direction for its collective environmental action. We learned of an organization called Interfaith Power and Light, which exists expressly to help faith communities with energy issues; we may be able to draw on them.

There are public policy decisions that we can influence, like two upcoming ballot issues in Missouri, one on energy and the other on rapid transit. We can support organizations like the Nature Conservancy or our state conservation departments in their efforts to restore wetlands and other wildlands. We do have conflicting feelings about the appropriate uses of wilderness and natural areas; is it all right for people, who are often grounded and restored by being in the natural world, to visit such places and risk degrading them?

There are endless ways to help the environment in our lives. Larry and Kathy walk to work; Rachel doesn’t eat meat or dairy; Karin hangs her clothes out to dry, to name a few. We may want to share more of our own practices, perhaps in the newsletter. We all believe that our own actions can have powerful effects on the world. On that subject, we shared an inscription from a tomb, ca. 1100:

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.