![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2020\/04\/Earth-Day-Resolutions.jpg\")
1 \u2013 Get SMART about your Earth Day Resolutions<\/h2>\n
In 1981, business consultant George T. Doran came up with the now-famous S.M.A.R.T. acronym<\/a> for reaching goals.\u00a0 It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Related. These criteria are important for our Earth Day Resolutions.<\/p>\n For example, one of my students committed to talking with more people about what she had learned in our Environmental Ethics class.\u00a0 She wants to engage people in raising awareness about climate change and pollution so they can discuss finding solutions.\u00a0 Wonderful!<\/p>\n So I encouraged her to set goals with some specific metrics.\u00a0 How many conversations you will have each week<\/em> about environmental issues?\u00a0 Each month?\u00a0 How many different (and new) people you will talk with about this?\u00a0 These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-related goals she can set for herself.<\/p>\n One of my students committed to using less plastic.\u00a0 But she went beyond just saying what she intends to do.\u00a0 She took the first step immediately.\u00a0 She purchased a water bottle to use at work instead of the plastic cups at the water cooler she used every day. \u00a0This has made an immediate impact on reducing single-use plastics.\u00a0 Let\u2019s say she used to throw away one cup per day 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.\u00a0 By using the water bottle instead, she will have prevented 260 plastic cups from going into the landfill in one year.\u00a0 Over 5 years \u2013 1300!<\/p>\n You can see how little choices add up! Taking that first, small step gives you a jump-start with momentum for reaching your goals.<\/p>\n Tracking your Earth Day Resolutions will enable you to stay focused, stay on task, and assess your impact.\u00a0 This is part of the \u201cmeasurable\u201d criteria.<\/p>\n With the student who has committed to talking to more people about environmental issues, for instance, I suggested that she keep a list of the people she talks with.\u00a0 This way, she can track how things progress for her and her conversation partners over the next year.<\/p>\n You can do this with your Earth Day Resolutions as well.\u00a0 Keep a notebook about your SMART goals for the planet. Write down your goals, what steps you\u2019ve taken, what you plan to do next, what obstacles you face, and what successes you\u2019ve celebrated.\u00a0 By the time you come to the end of the year, you\u2019ll be able to see just how much of an impact you\u2019ve had!<\/p>\n One of my students committed to praying for the many issues we discussed in our class.\u00a0 He reminded us of the importance of connecting to a divine power beyond our limited human capacity.\u00a0 I appreciated his religious and spiritual fervor for bringing the transcendent into the earthly challenges we face.<\/p>\n Prayer is meant to spur us to action, yet many regard prayer as an end<\/em> to action instead of an impetus to transform that energy into something tangible.\u00a0 To move beyond \u201cthoughts and prayers,\u201d we can keep an Earth Day Resolution Prayer Journal that allows us to track the things we prayed for and see how things develop over the course of time. An Earth Day Resolutions Prayer Journal also holds us accountable and helps us to follow through on our commitments.<\/p>\n One of my students said she\u2019s committed to a \u201cno-buy year\u201d<\/a> or at least a \u201clow-buy year.\u201d\u00a0 She\u2019ll avoid purchasing items she\u2019d like to have but doesn\u2019t really need.\u00a0 This will increase her mindfulness as a consumer and reduce her burden on the planet.\u00a0 And she plans to do this with friends \u2013 so she has her accountability group. That\u2019s great!<\/p>\n I then challenged her to get more specific with her accountability goal. \u00a0Who will you ask to be part of your group?\u00a0 When will you ask them?\u00a0 How will you hold each other accountability?\u00a0 Perhaps weekly \u201cConsumer-holics Anonymous\u201d meetings via Zoom?\u00a0 What will be the \u201cpenalty\u201d if you buy something you don\u2019t absolutely need?\u00a0 What will be the reward if you stick to your plan (that doesn\u2019t involve buying something!)?<\/p>\n A student in my course committed to using less water after completing her project of helping her congregation reduce their water footprint. [You can calculate your \u201cwater footprint\u201d using this link:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.watercalculator.org\/<\/a>.] She learned that eating less meat uses less water.\u00a0 So she came up with a SMART goal of reducing her meat consumption to just two meals a week.\u00a0 And she has an accountability group of friends who will meet on a regular basis to support each other in their goals.<\/p>\n I suggested they give themselves even more metrics.\u00a0 Figure out how much meat you\u2019re consuming as group at the start. Then make a goal to reduce by 5% eat month.\u00a0 In a year you will have reduced your collective meat consumption by 60%!\u00a0 Imagine how much water you will save!\u00a0 Here is a calculator you can use:\u00a0https:\/\/www.blitzresults.com\/en\/meat\/<\/a><\/p>\n For example, I found that I saved\u00a01,194,035 gallons of water over 5 years by not eating meat!<\/p>\n When I went meatless five years ago, I found that there are many products that help with the transition.\u00a0 For example, for my family, I\u2019ve found that Quorn Meatless Crumbles comes closest for a substitute for ground beef in chili, spaghetti sauce, etc.\u00a0 Gardein has delicious meatless crab balls and fishless fillets.\u00a0 The Impossible Burger is amazing \u2013 juicy and tasty! A perfect replacement for hamburgers.\u00a0 And for bacon \u2013 Morningstar strips are fantastic \u2013 smoky and crispy when lightly fried in the pan.<\/p>\n So my challenge for my student and her accountability group was to try one meatless product a week to see if they like it.\u00a0 If the whole group tries it, you can compare notes and it becomes a fun challenge!<\/p>\n We can do so much more together than we can ever do alone.\u00a0 When we connect with environmental groups who are already doing the work you\u2019re committed to, you can maximize your impact.<\/p>\n One of my students committed to joining her efforts with interfaith environmental groups so that she could continue the vibrant multi-faith discussions we\u2019ve had in this course. Here are three groups I can recommend.<\/p>\n IPL has been mobilizing people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change for more than twenty years.\u00a0 On this link you can find your state chapter:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.interfaithpowerandlight.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n GreenFaith is an international, interfaith environmental NGO \u2014 one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the world. Since 1992, they\u2019ve been working with diverse religious and spiritual communities, educating about the moral and sacred basis for protecting the environment.\u00a0 Greenfaith helps communities green their operations, and mobilizing passionate people for environmental advocacy and campaigns. Also, they have a Fellowship Program as well as programs for congregations:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/greenfaith.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n Blessed Tomorrow is by people of faith, for people of faith, offering ideas, tools, and language that are familiar, compelling.\u00a0Through Blessed Tomorrow, faith leaders work to reach 100% clean energy, prepare for a changing climate, and engage their communities, while maintaining the distinct voices of their traditions.They have fantastic resources for faith communities to talk about and address the climate crisis:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/blessedtomorrow.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n This organization addresses the intersections of environmental, economic, military, health, and racism from a moral and ethical perspective.\u00a0 You can find the chapter nearest you here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.poorpeoplescampaign.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n In our Environmental Ethics class, we read a book I co-edited with my colleague Margaret Bullitt-Jonas called Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 It\u2019s a collection of 21 essays from religious environmental activists sharing their stories about the spiritual roots of their actions to address the climate crisis.\u00a0 Our class discussed that while some people are might be ready to join a protest, not everyone is able to do so.\u00a0 But there are <\/em>organizations who are doing the work that we can support.<\/p>\n While there are many well-respected and effective organizations, I\u2019ll mention just three \u2013 one that\u2019s well-established, one that\u2019s fairly recent, and one that\u2019s focused on the intersections of climate and urban issues.<\/p>\n 350.org<\/strong> was founded by Bill McKibben (who wrote one of the forwards to\u00a0Rooted and Rising).\u00a0 <\/em>They\u2019ve been active and effective in climate action since 2007.\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/350.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n The Sunrise Movement<\/strong> focuses on educating and equipping young people for climate justice:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.sunrisemovement.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n The Hip Hop Caucus<\/strong> was founded by one of our authors in Rooted and Rising<\/em> \u2013 Rev. Lennox Yearwood<\/a>.\u00a0 This organization focuses on how environmental issues and climate justice affect communities of color.\u00a0 https:\/\/hiphopcaucus.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n In Rooted and Rising,\u00a0<\/em>Margaret Bullitt-Jonas\u00a0has written spiritual practices for each of the seven sections of the book to help individuals and groups ground their activism.\u00a0 Try this, for example.<\/p>\n Go outside for a walk and receive every experience as a gift \u2013 the sight of the sky, the feel of your foot on the ground, the crack in the sidewalk, the girl walking her dog, the call of a crow. Walk slowly. Everything you see, hear, smell and touch is a gift.\u00a0 It is surprising that anything is here at all!\u00a0 Notice something you have never noticed before. Who is the One who created all this?\u00a0 Who is the One who is with you as you walk?\u00a0 Give thanks.<\/em><\/p>\n By focusing on the sacred breath, prayer, embodiment, gratitude, intentionality, and vision, we can cultivate the resilience and spiritual sustenance we need for our Earth Day Resolutions.<\/p>\n Many of my students are faith leaders or members who are very active in their houses of worship.\u00a0 So they are finding ways to integrate their newfound environmental awareness into the lives and spiritual practices of their churches, schools, mosques, and spiritual communities.<\/p>\n For example, one student is planning a workshop at her church to help address the need for green spaces within her town. She has already spoke to a local official to speak at her church. She plans to have refreshments, small gifts, information booths, and demonstrations. Her next step will be to invite other churches and people from her community to participate in a workshop. She is also engaging and encouraging the youth to participate in clean-up days around the town.<\/p>\n Another student is a pastor who is planning a Saturday \u201cWild Church<\/a>\u201d in a state park.\u00a0 His goal is to create a faith community who finds being and walking in a nature a tremendous source of spiritual strength.\u00a0 Together they will support each other to care for our Earth community.<\/p>\n He wants to organize theologically trained clergy and laity to engaged in study and reflection on Green Theology and Liturgy in the context of ministry. His hope is to engage a deeper conversations about the relationship between the climate crisis and the perspectives and practices promoted by the church. In this way, the practical steps of addressing environmental issues will be grounded in the sacred texts and liturgies of his faith community.<\/p>\n These are all examples of integrating Earth Day Resolutions into the life and community of our houses of worship in holistic and spiritual ways.<\/p>\n *********<\/p>\n Blessings on you and your community as you live out your own Earth Day Resolutions!<\/p>\n 10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at Home<\/a><\/p>\n Beyond Earth Day: 10 Ideas for Environmental Advocacy and Activism in Your Church<\/a><\/p>\n Six Children\u2019s Sermon Ideas for Earth Day<\/a><\/p>\n Leah D. Schade is the Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at\u00a0<\/em>Lexington Theological Seminary<\/i><\/a>\u00a0in Kentucky\u00a0and ordained in the ELCA. Dr. Schade does not speak for LTS or the ELCA; her opinions are her own. \u00a0She is the author of\u00a0<\/em>Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019),\u00a0<\/em>Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), and\u00a0<\/em>Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit<\/a>\u00a0(Chalice Press, 2015).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Leah\u2019s latest book is a Lenten devotional centered on Creation:\u00a0<\/em>For the Beauty of the Earth<\/a>\u00a0(Chalice Press, 2020).<\/em><\/p>\n Twitter:\u00a0<\/em>@LeahSchade<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2020\/04\/smart-goals.jpg\")
2 \u2013 Take the First Small Step Today<\/h2>\n
3 \u2013 Track Your Earth Day Resolutions<\/h2>\n
4 \u2013 Keep an Earth Day Resolutions Prayer Journal<\/h2>\n
5 \u2013 Have an Accountability Partner or Group for Your Earth Day Resolutions<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2020\/04\/hands-together.jpg\")
6 \u2013 Make Your Earth Day Resolutions Challenging and Fun<\/h2>\n
I also found that making goals can be about more than discipline and austerity measures.<\/h3>\n
7 \u2013 Connect with Interfaith Environmental Organizations<\/h2>\n
Interfaith Power and Light<\/h3>\n
GreenFaith<\/h3>\n
Blessed Tomorrow (part of ecoAmerica)<\/h3>\n
Poor People\u2019s Campaign<\/h3>\n
8 \u2013 Support Climate Activists \u2013 Even if You\u2019re NOT an Activist Yourself<\/h2>\n
9 \u2013 Make Your Earth Day Resolutions a Spiritual Practice<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2017\/06\/Rachel-Schade-redemption.png\")
10 \u2013 Integrate Your Earth Day Resolutions with Your Faith Community<\/h2>\n
This pastor also has a goal of creating a Green Theology and Liturgy Study group.<\/h3>\n
Read also:<\/h4>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2019\/11\/Leah-D.-Schade.RootedAndRising-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\n