Do you also feel that the partisan antipathy is sort of getting old? Divisions between left and right, religious and non-religious, industries and conservationists… they are wearing on us all. Our generation has grown up within the divisive culture, and are longing for something different. Suspicious of self-affirming social media bubbles, we want to get out of our comfort zones, and try, once again, look for what connects us.
We all – Christians, environmentalists, scientists – we all have desires that move us forward. We all believe in something bigger than ourselves, something which make us want to get up from our chair and do things. Some of these feelings are different among us, but some are the same. And it’s there, somewhere in the overlap of our desires, where the solutions to the world crises lie. There, in the place where we agree, is where we can harness our combined energies in the right direction.
It also turns out that we don’t have time to waste. People’s domination of our natural heritage is out of control, and those who pay attention are feeling its impact. If you want to connect with something greater than your daily grind, where do you go? Some of us go to church to connect with the Creator. But where do you go to connect with His Creation? In our state, Florida, it is becoming difficult. As our formerly glorious forests, beaches and springs are being fenced off, developed, and loaded with waste, what remains?
Your backyard can a part of a new movement. Movement of people who understand that nature has deep spiritual value. That a part of our faith is the responsibility to care for our earthly dominion. That we can no longer protect water, air and living creatures by closing them up in reserves, away from people. Those spaces are running low, while there is no reason for our living spaces to be sterile deserts. Your yard can bloom and buzz just like a Homegrown National Park.
And the best part is: we can agree on it.
Our unorthodox alliance is growing, stay tuned for the team member list.
Please contact us with any questions! You can email Jiri Hulcr, the group founder, at jirihulcr@gmail.com, or you can meet us in person at the United Church of Gainesville.
We would gratefully appreciate your support for this effort, please click the Donate button below to see how.