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As I read the second half of the first chapter of Genesis this morning about the creation of all the sea creatures, the birds, the “creeping things” and wild animals, I saw in my mind’s eye the vivid red of cardinals and woodpeckers on our deck vying with the squirrels for the “breakfast” seed before it disappeared under the snow that had just begun to fall. Next I was reminded of the polar bears cited on yesterday’s news, sad that a state of emergency was declared as at least 52 of them were spotted in residential areas on a remote archipelago in the Arctic Ocean north of Russia. It seems that rising global temperatures have contributed to a reduction in the size of polar bears’ sea-ice habitats, forcing them onto land for longer periods of time. (Time.com) There are pictures of these beautiful creatures foraging in garbage dumps for food, a sad commentary on the lack of care and concern that science tells us is the result of human disregard of warnings about the environment.

As I wrote that last, I was jolted into recognition that humans have also been reduced to the same kind of foraging for food – and livelihood – as they actually live on the edges of garbage dumps (see La Chureca in Managua, Nicaragua).

How does all this square with the conclusion that God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good? How have we lived our responsibility as caretakers of creation? Is it too late to “save the planet?” Perhaps on this day when many of us are housebound because of extreme weather conditions, we might take some time to consider the best way to participate in a solution to what has become a major crisis in our day. May our efforts be blessed!