Why Jacinta Cares for Creation

When God created man in the Garden of Eden, one of the primary roles given to him was to “work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). From the beginning, we were designed to live in harmony with God, each other and to steward the world around us. Whilst environmental changes have naturally occurred, they are being caused and accelerated more by human activities in recent times. Our natural reliance on the environment for essentials such as food, water and shelter has become unsustainable as we attempt to meet growing societal demands and population numbers. The outcome of this has included increasing air and water pollution, extinction of flora and fauna, deforestation and land degradation to name a few. It is predicted that between 2030 and 2050, the consequences of climate change such as an increased incidence of malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition and heat stress may contribute to the unnecessary death of an additional 250,000 people globally each year.

What particularly strikes a chord with me is that those least responsible for driving these environmental changes are often most vulnerable to them and least able to mitigate the impacts. It saddens me to think that our exploitation of the environment, particularly in developed countries, has health implications not just on ourselves, but on our global community and on future generations to come. Caring for creation is not just a nicety, it’s a necessity. It is an act of compassion towards our vulnerable neighbours and a display of God’s love in action.

As I continue to have conversations with others about creation care, I am realising that many people are not choosing to ignore the negative consequences that our environment is facing. Rather, they are unaware of the extent of the problem and of what they can do to counteract them. This individual unawareness is what flows through to the lack of accountability we see within our governments. For example, the mass production of plastic products is continually endorsed, due to the versatility and convenience they offer, despite the unsustainability and long-term consequences of these practices. Thus, in order to encourage action, an important question I ask myself is: how do I best approach conversations and share about the situation with others that does not just stir them but aids them to take ownership of their role as stewards of the land?

Over the past two years, I have tried to increase my understanding of creation care and how it aligns with the Father’s heart. I have delved into articles, books and watched documentaries relating to environmental issues such as plastic pollution, waste mismanagement and global warming. As my eyes have been opened to the state that our world is in, there have been moments where I have felt overwhelmed, disillusioned and powerless.

Whilst in the face of systemic processes, it may appear that our individual choices will barely make any difference, I believe we have a social responsibility to reduce our planetary footprint in any way we can. I admit from personal experience that making small changes to my lifestyle has been challenging. It has required intentionality and I definitely do not always get it right, but my conviction comes from a desire to live in alignment with how I would like to see the world and how God created it to be.

Practical things I have been doing in response to this growing awareness include:

• Going to fresh food markets
• Making meal plans prior to getting my groceries as I find that by writing up a list of purchases before going to the store, it allows me time to consider options I can purchase with the least amount of packaging and impact on the environment
• Checking what I already have in the fridge to ensure that I incorporate those ingredients in my meals
• Reducing my meat intake
• Decluttering my home and in the process considering if anyone I know needs items I own or figuring out if they can be repurposed, donated, sold or disposed of responsibly.
• Not buying new clothes for two years
• Sharing with others around me about my conviction about why I have chosen to make these lifestyle changes and inviting them to take small steps with me if it is on their heart to do so
• Spending more time in nature particularly through hiking and chasing waterfalls. Not only does this help to refresh me but it acts as a reminder of the beautiful world around us and the importance of conserving it. I would have to say that my favourite place is currently Tasmania which I went to during my annual leave this year
• My current focus has been learning about how I can reduce my footprint in the hospital where I work as the overall health sector is responsible for 7% of Australia’s carbon emissions (approximately 39 million tonnes of CO2 yearly)

Beyond our personal responsibility to lead by example, there is an urgent need to address local and systemic policies and processes which are negatively impacting the environment. I would like to honour everyone who’s been involved in The Call For All Creation campaign as they’ve exampled what it looks like to step out boldly and pursue a vision of restoration and God’s justice for creation.

Here’s a reminder to you, and myself included, that our voice and actions matter. As it says in Proverbs 31:8-9, we must “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” By intentionally making small changes in our individual and collective decisions, I believe that we will be able to move towards a gradual restoration of our world for the benefit of our global community and generations to come. It’s time for us to stand together, to preserve and steward the gift of creation that God has shared with us.