We live in a time of industrial agriculture. Whenever we sit down for a meal, we are supporting a food system that has reverberating effects on God’s creation. The average meal has ingredients that have traveled 1500 miles to our table. Farming policies and practices can help or harm God’s creation-- how the land is farmed impacts air, water, soil, animals and people. Farming legislation can reduce the farmer’s ability to produce food and a livelihood for future generations. Farm workers are often underpaid and exposed to harmful farm chemicals and hazardous working conditions. The industrial agriculture model is wreaking havoc on God’s Earth and on human communities around the world.

As Christians, we are given instructions about how God intends us to care for creation. Biblical stories tell us about justice pouring down like water, and of Jesus and his disciples feeding the 5,000. This inspires as to how we can structure our daily living to strive for justice and sustainability. We are called to seek lifestyles, individual and corporate, that allow God’s creation to flourish. We are called to pay attention to the effects of climate change and global warming, which can have a deleterious effect on food production. We must act to protect arable land as development eats it up.

Pray that every year Earth Day will bring a new sense of identity with the whole human family and a commitment to see peace through understanding and love--the love that Jesus revealed. And then put feet to your prayers with action to help make it happen.

(helpful websites: www.nccecojustice.org and www.climatecrisiscoalition.org.

(Adapted from materials from the National Council of Churches)