When we humans live in harmony with the earth, we uphold the sanctity of all life. Because we want to sustain this life into the next generations, we seek to live a whole and wholesome life in the here and now. A truly "holy life" on this earth leans into the circular motion of the seasons -- from birth, to the fullness of life, into death that leads to new birth. This encompassing sphere moves from cradle to cradle, not cradle to grave. Our very life patterns need to be recycled in a lifestyle where reducing consumption reigns supreme.
In our attempts to discover sustainable ways of being on the earth, we must look to invest in the fullness of life by giving back to the earth and her life forms more than we take from them. This empowerment celebrates and strengthens the sacred circle of all life on this fragile, wounded planet.
At the Agape Community those who dwell here seek to write a new chapter of Christian living in our 21st century, one that is radically different from the environmental exploitation of the 20th century. In loving God and following Jesus, we reverence the earth that our God has created and, in the process, we heal ourselves and the damage we have done to our Mother Earth and all her creatures.
Can we recommit ourselves to this healthy, sustainable way of being and uphold the sanctity of these, our God-given lives?
Brayton Shanley earned his B.