For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew,
serving its natural laws,
that your children might be preserved unharmed.
Wisdom 19:6
In Laudato Si which is Pope Francis' encyclical on caring for our common home, the earth, he mentions the possible disastrous effects when we as humans, do not care for our environment. He does not mince words. In his opening remarks, Pope Francis states: (the earth) now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.
Many of us have seen first hand the effects of a hurricane and fire, and it only takes a moment to view the effects of weather events that are occurring around us since most of us have access to the internet. As we enjoy this cooler weather this weekend, perhaps we can go outdoors and pick up some trash, and try to get by the entire weekend without a plastic bottle of either water or a soda. These seemingly rather insignificant tasks can be done with a prayer which then elevates their smallness into a much larger effort. We can even recite this verse as a prayer, and ask God to renew us as we respect the natural laws and therefore the greater good of all God's creation.
