Ten Talents of Environmental Stewardship

Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

In Matthew 25:14-30, we read Jesus' parable about the man who was going on a long trip and asked his servants to care for his property while he was away. It could be said that the man asked his servants to be stewards of his property during his absence. These servants were each given "talents" to assist them in their stewardship responsibilities.

Likewise, God has asked us to be stewards of his creation, our planet, Earth. And likewise, God has given each of us "talents" that enable us to exercise that stewardship of our air, our water, our land, and the plants and animals with which we share this amazing planet.

Exercising these talents is often not a difficult thing to do though it may, at times, require us to be thoughtful in our actions. Two rather simple automobile-related examples that call on us to be thoughtful include: consolidating our errands to minimize car trips, thus saving energy and protecting our air quality; and fueling our cars only in the early morning or late in the day, thus reducing the likelihood of the formation of ozone, which again, helps to protect the quality of the air we breathe.

Some other ways in which we exercise our stewardship talents are seemingly small, but are hugely significant in their accumulated values. Two examples include turning off the water while brushing our teeth and turning off lights in rooms that are not being used. The amount of water conserved and energy saved over the course of time is extraordinary.

Listed below are ten "talents of environmental stewardship" for you to consider adopting into your everyday habits. There are many more but these can get you started.

Consume less: analyses by the Earth Council, an organization set up to monitor the recommendations made by the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, demonstrate that humanity as a whole is consuming at a rate 35% beyond the limit where nature can still sustainably regenerate itself.

Conserve water: compost your food waste instead of always using the garbage disposal; collect rain water in barrels for plant irrigation; use low flow shower heads and low flush toilets.

Conserve energy: unplug cell phone chargers when not in use; buy "energy star" appliances and office equipment (www.energystar.gov/); turn off any lights not in use.

Household actions: use non-toxic cleaning products; buy all recycled paper products; participate in your recycling programs (plastics, glass, batteries, metal and anything else you can recycle.)

Garden actions: plant native plants; use drip irrigation and organic fertilizers; compost.

Plant a tree(s): this protects water and air quality, provides habitat, holds the soil, and cools the air around us.

Climate protection: drive less; walk and bike when possible; use public transportation; do not cut down existing trees - plant more trees instead; use and buy the most fuel-efficient vehicles that you can.

Be informed - Let your voice be heard: while many of our individual actions can havea powerful cumulative effect, many of the decisions that will need to be made to sustain our planet must be made by elected officials. Be informed on environmental issues and let those who represent you in local, state and national legislatures know that you expect them to vote in ways that will protect the Earth.

Experience nature: For God so loved "the world" - not just humans but all in creation - animals, plants - go outside, look at the stars, feel the wind, and observe the plants and animals around you.

Express appreciation to God for the bountiful natural world: extend your love to the natural world and pray that we, together, might take better care of our planet.

1 Corinthians 4:2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

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