Categories
climate change Thought of the Day

Hindsight

In science fiction the reader is often given a glimpse of present reality from an imagined future perspective.

The first panel in this story reminded my both of the optimism of the atomic era, and the growing recognition that something was wrong with the way we were using oil.

It was an era of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) presented as a cost effective way to secure peace. The young generation enjoyed the benefits of a reasonable economy, and boomed beyond their borders in supersonic aircraft. The bust of AIDS, famine, and the global cost of this frenzied activity by a small minority of it’s population was yet to hit.

If you could go back in time and change one thing in order to save the world of today, what would it be?

Church of Scotland COP26 (get involved)

With COP26 in the near future, what can you do now?

Suggestions on a comment please …

Categories
Thought of the Day

Psalm 8

A song from my childhood

What balance of responsibilities and rights does our relationship with heaven and earth require?

Categories
Mission Thought of the Day

Learning to love

“Raising kids during climate catastrophe” (a point of view from the USA)

How can something as simple as lighting a candle move you from one ‘bubble’ of normal into another? Well, it takes time, but our hearts will learn to lie where we spend our time – whether that’s in a building we say is special, familiar rituals, or a pattern of social media use…

Read the article here

Categories
Mission Thought of the Day

Progress

When the Israelites decide that they want a king, like other nations, they are told by their prophet that the king will take their children, their wealth, and the best of their produce. They go ahead with it anyway and choose Saul.

The idea that the rich get rich from the work of the poor is not new. Some justify it by saying that it is right to reward those who excel, and that this encourages progress which benefits everyone. Others argue that (rare) examples of those who have worked their way to the top from the bottom up are used by the rich to blame the less privileged for their own lack of success.

Why in the 21st century UK does our economy leave some people starving themselves so their kids can eat, while those they elect to represent them eat in fine restaurants?

Perhaps part of it is that when we invented robot slaves to do our clothes washing, instead of gaining more leasure time, people washed their clothes more often. Perhaps it is because once consumers are alienated from manufacturers the worth of what has been produced can become lost in politics.

These questions may be of interest. However the crucial question is “what can you do about it?” In what ways can our actions help progress work for the common weal? Can we build a global community where technology meets humanities basic needs, and allows art, philosophy and spiritual fulfillment to flourish?

Everyone will have their own response, perhaps some will post suggestions in the comments.

Categories
Fresh Expressions Thought of the Day

Gardening

The spiritual practice of gardening.

For some the step forward will be the experience of working with their hands, growing things, and encountering a primitive world to balance a lifestyle of technology and 24/7/365 artificial light. By relinquishing their acknowledged position of dominance they can restore the relationship.

For others it will be access to education, birth control and the technology of overconsuming cultures. In being freed from the vice of poverty they will be able to care for creation. In gaining practical control they will be able to restore the relationship.

A video made for Harvest, but packed full of thoughts for every season.

Take some time out to reflect. Find your balance, then start to walk.