For Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Hello all, as I understand it ship builders had fairly denuded European forests around the time of Columbus and his travels. The invention of steel ships, creosote to make railroad ties last longer, and the mining of coal for heating, took much of the burden off the forests of the New World.

The whaling industry started with off-shore jaunts of three weeks and became three to four year trips, searching for whales all over the world. By the mid 1800's the petroleum industry stepped in to replace an insatiable consumption of whale oil.

The advent of new technologies has fed our desire for consumption so often, in recent history, that it has become an expected promise. However, we live on a ball floating in space, with enormous distances between us and the next available thing to be consumed. Perhaps it would be wise to treat our resources, and indeed our home, with a bit more respect, or even reverence.

This Sunday may we sit for the care of Mother Earth, our home, our sustainer. May we treat what we find here kindly, lovingly, for ourselves and for those who come after us.

Thank you,

Richard