Kia ora
We live in interesting times. What with Covid19, elections and climate change.
I have just returned from a trip around the Te Waipounamu, the South Island, with my grandson. Passing through the Mackenzie country I was tempted to drive up to Lake Ohau as I had not been there before. Having spent too much time in the Lake Tekapo hot pools we run out of time and missed Lake Ohau. A few days later the Ohau Village would be engulfed by fire. While it burned I was in Waimahaka on the south coast experiencing the worse localised flooding my sister had seen in 40 years.
As a result of the fires we are hearing a ‘discussion’ where the Department of Conservation is saying that the fires are a result of climate change. And the farmers and home owners are saying the conservation land is poorly managed resulting in the build-up of fuel for the fire.
Both could be, and probably are correct.
But may be the really important question is “What is our place in the Wilderness?” Is it a resource to be managed, or is it a place to be respected and a place we need to learn to live in relationship with?
In my reflection on Sunday I will be looking at an interesting interruption of Jesus’s 40 days in the wilderness. One where the goal was to build a respect for the natural world, to restore the break that occurred back in Genesis. I will tell the story in a new way.
Please bring a stone you have picked up on your travels, if you are like me you will have some of your own or ones children or grandchildren have picked up. Or bring a stone you have been given like the one Niki gave us on the 27th Oct.
nga mihi
Ross Scott
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