The Sustainist

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is one the most famous pieces of Hebrew scripture.  It has been used in many funeral and memorial services.  Many composers have set this text to music.  It begins: 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. 

The image of God as a shepherd might have been a common idea when the psalm was composed.  Perhaps, many who sang this psalm were shepherds themselves or they would know a real shepherd in their daily life.  But for today, how many of us really know a real shepherd? So, the image of God as the shepherd can be quite foreign for us today. 

As I read the psalm trying to capture the relationship between God and her people, I realize that this relationship is quite simple.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

A shepherd knows where the green pastures and sources of water are (sustenance for the sheep) and lead the sheep to these sources.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; for you are with me . . .

A shepherd provides a safe environment so that the sheep do not live in fear of scarcity but in the assurance of abundance.

… my cup is running over.

In other words, the shepherd is a sustainist leader.

 

A sustainist leader knows what the needs of people in the community are. A sustainist leader knows from where the resources for wellness flow.  A sustainist leader enables the people to connect, utilize and benefit from these sources.  A sustainist protects the people in the community from harm, assuring them that there is an abundance of resources that can feed everyone spiritually, physically, socially and economically.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life . . .

Reflection Questions for 4th Sunday in Lent (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1-13    What is God looking for in the anointed one? Psalm 23  How do goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life? Ephesians 5:8-14   How do we live as children of light? John 4:5-42   What are the consequences to be healed?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Waste Water into Wine

I have been doing a weeklong training workshop for a group of people who enjoyed a glass of wine each evening to unwind after an intensive day of learning.  Since California has been experiencing a severe drought this year, I have been paying attention to how water is used.  I discovered that many California wineries are using recycled wastewater for irrigation.  While I was sipping my wine, I had this uneasy feeling that this tasty and aromatic liquid might at one time had been wastewater!  I know the wastewater had been treated but still, the idea of drinking wastewater was a little disconcerting. 

Then I took a deep breath and enjoyed the “bouquet” of my wine and I gave thanks to the amazing plants that produce grapes.  The plant function as a recycling device; it not only “filters” the water being drawn up through its vine, it also transforms it into sweet juice in grapes, which we reap and transform into wine. Sustainists learn from the plants and trees on this earth to take our part in sustaining the earth and our communities by recycling and transforming our waste into resources in everything that we do.

Reflection Questions for 3rd Sunday in Lent (Year A) Exodus 17:1-7    What did you learn from this passage about faith? Psalm 95  What does this psalm say about your relationship with God? Romans 5:1-11   What does it mean to be justified by faith? John 4:5-42   What is living water?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Network for Truth and Compassion

In a world where we can get information almost instantaneously, where there seem to be cameras everywhere recording everything, and where there are satellites in space seemingly watching over every inch of our earth, it was hard to believe that after 6 days, we still don’t know what happened to the missing plane with 239 people of Flight 370, Malaysia Airlines.

Of course, there are rumors and unsubstantiated theories about what happened swirling around the internet making the investigation more difficult. Perhaps, this is a sobering time for us to realize that there are limits to our global information network. We also need to stop using this amazing network to spread misinformation. We need to restrain from loading more “junk” and “noise” in the network and allow the truthful information to emerge. We need to use our network to spread prayers, compassion and support to the families and friends of the 239 passengers and crew, who are suffering unimaginable anguish of not knowing.

Reflection Questions for 2nd Sunday in Lent (Year A) Genesis 12:1-4a    What did you learn from this passage about blessing? Psalm 121  What does this psalm say about your relationship with God? Romans 4:1-5, 13-17   What does this passage teach you about faith? John 3:1-17   What does it mean to be born of the spirit?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Pipeline for Life

I was in Ohio after the big snowstorm a couple of weeks ago.  There were at least 3 feet of ice/snow on the sidewalk.  As my host drove me around, we talked about the possibility of flooding once the weather become warmer.  I just came in from California where there is a drought.  What if we could find a way to catch the extra water from states that have the over abundance of snow and transport the water to states that need the water? 

By now, most people have heard of the Keystone Pipeline which is a proposed 1,179-mile (1,897 km), 36-inch-diameter crude oil pipeline beginning in Alberta, and extending south to Nebraska and eventually all the way to Texas.  One of the main purposes of the pipeline is to transport oil from Canada to refineries in the U.S.  The cost would be approximately $7 billion.  Of course there are economic, political and environmental issues that are being debated on this project.  The big questions for me are: Who stands to benefit financially from this project?  And at what cost to the land and communities that the construction of this project would disrupt?  What will be left behind when the oil runs out (and it will)? 

What if we use the same financial and human resources to build a pipeline to transport water from states with the abundance of snow, to states that are suffering from drought? If we can figure out how to extract oil out of sand, we can figure out how to capture the extra water when the snow melts in spring.  We can create a switching system that would divert water to the places where it is needed most.  If the pipes are damaged and leaks, no harm would be done—it’s just water. 

I know I am dreaming. The point I want to make is that we have a choice in how to use our resources.  I am proposing that we choose to invest them in life-giving sustainable projects.  Can someone propose to build a pipeline for life?

Reflection Questions for 1st Sunday in Lent (Year A) Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7    How does it mean for your eyes to be opened? Psalm 32  What does this psalm say to you about confession of sin? Romans 5:12-19   How does this text help you understanding the role of Jesus? Matthew 4:1-11   What can you learn from Jesus about facing temptation?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org