My husband and I just returned home from a one-month sabbatical. We knew we might come back to a lot of yard work after leaving our house for thirty days in the springtime, but we never imagined coming home to a jungle! The small section of our property that grows relatively healthy grass was over two feet high. The willow bushes I planted several years ago were at least three feet higher than when we left, blocking the garage and smothering the other plants that they typically accentuate. Weeds and ant mounds overtook the gravel pathways, stone driveway, and perennial and butterfly gardens. Raccoons apparently thrust aside the log border I made around the herb garden. Huge tree branches were scattered around the property, presumably from wind and rain. The vines on the pergola and garage were growing wildly out of control in all directions, desperately seeking something to grab onto. The water in the bird bath and fountain were filthy, and the numerous bird feeders were empty. There’s more to the list, but you get the picture.
Don’t get me wrong; I love a wild garden. The problem wasn’t that everything needed to be perfectly in order, but that nature seemed to miss the loving care we usually provide. My husband and I spent the day tending to the land and the many critters that have made their home on our property. Using all our God-given abilities, we determined what needed to be pruned, weeded, shifted, cleaned, restocked, fixed, and planted so that the maximum potential of the natural habitat might be realized. As we worked to accomplish those tasks, the birds flitted friskily, chirping excitedly as if to thank us for cleaning the baths and refilling the feeders. The squirrels and chipmunks scurried playfully in circles nearby, seemingly expressing gratitude for the peanuts and seeds we replenished. The bees and butterflies also appeared thankful, now pollinating more freely since we pulled the noxious weeds. We experienced an enchanting natural harmony that sadly does not always come naturally these days.
My husband and I were exhausted at the end of the day, but we were fulfilled and had an even greater sense of our role in caring for the planet. I pondered the meaning of God’s words in Genesis 1:27-28, which now seemed so obvious to me:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
For too long, human beings have misinterpreted this passage, using it to reinforce their power and control over all life on the planet at any cost. The words “subdue” and “dominion” were misconstrued, giving humanity more worth than all other life. The results of this misconception are apparent, as natural resources are abused, wasted, and depleted. It took just thirty days away from our property for my husband and me to understand that we humans have been given unique gifts that allow us to help the natural world achieve its best potential.
Indeed, God has blessed humankind with the ability to subdue the earth, but only in ways that make it more livable for all species. We have been given an intellect to resolve problems and make adjustments so that the world may reflect the majesty of God. We are gifted with bodies that allow us to care for the earth in ways no other species can. With this gift comes great responsibility. Let us humbly subdue our pride and pray for the grace to more fully understand our role and the desire to do whatever we can to care for “every living thing that moves upon the earth” (Genesis 1:29).
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Read more reflections in When on Earth: Discovering Christian Spirituality in the Daily Happenings of Ordinary Life.