A Rap on Climate

An African proverb says: “If you know the beginning well, the end will not trouble you.” This is particularly true when seeking the best response to climate change.  Within the Biblical beginning stories of John 1, Proverbs 8, and Genesis 2, we find the right relationship among humankind, Creation, Creator, Christ and Wisdom. 

In the beginning was consciousness. Consciousness was with God, and consciousness was God. It was a beat that begat a sound and that sound begat a word that wrapped itself in flesh. It merged with a soul that came to the earth to give birth to new life, ending misery and strife and they called him the Christ.

In the beginning was Wisdom and Wisdom was a girl. She hung out with our Creator to make this beautiful world. She told him use prudence and patience and diversity if you want things to last. If you only plant one crop it’ll burn up in a blast. Christ taught us from the earth to lead us back to Wisdom—in the beginning.

In the beginning God planted a garden—not a farm or a plantation. There were trees with food for the body and beauty for the soul. Clean air to breathe – clean water to drink– THAT was the goal. Variety brought abundance that was AWESOME to behold. And with abundance came peace—in the beginning.

In the beginning there was No separation of sacred and secular, EVERYONE knows the bonds are molecular. We must love the earth before we can love one another. EVERYONE KNEW THAT—-in the beginning.

Wisdom Creator  Earth Redeemer  the 4 corners of our existence— in the beginning

Now Mother Nature has been oppressed and thrown out with human trash. She’s only a sidekick, dominated and abused, she gets the first and the last lick. No longer a respected muse.  So some folks got together to stand up for the rights of our Mother Earth. They pushed back the corporations, wrote up a UNIVERSAL DECLARATION that says we are ALL protected from genetic modification. It says some other things too, but what it does do–is take us back– to the beginning

Creator gave instructions and then stepped back .  He let human will run rampant and now the world is all whack. The jet stream has a rhythm and we have forgotten the tune. And EACH ONE of your manicured lawns seals our doom. When you change the music, you change the dance. If we change our landscapes we have a chance. The Creator always gives the way of escape — if we are listening — to the beginning.

The climate is always changing, we just speeded it up. Now it’s out of control and the planet will hiccup unless We act more than we talk while we listen –to the beginning. Wisdom says diversity is the key to existence. Earth and human harmony –STOP BEING RESISTANT –listen to the beginning

Delivered June 19, 2014    Sojourner’s Leadership Summit     Washington DC

It is instructive to note that the audience was able to create a poly rhythmic climate tune together, but was unable to speed up together. Once again art reflects life: we had fun together while we flunked climate change together.

[Greek scholars tell us that the term Logos is best translated as consciousness: Intelligence in a form that moves]

Rev. Dele is available to brief pastor’s associations in climate resilience, share eco-theology at church conferences and conduct environmental stewardship workshops for youth and adults. Please email revdele@naturesfriends.coop for further information and to make arrangements.