Going Green on the Universal Spirit Path
click for more discussions fromThe Universal Spirit View thru the eyes of Wilda Spalding
Almost all known Faith traditions recount creation stories that include a pictorial of either an original or an ideal place of balanced plenty, of some kind of intimacy both with the Creator and with the other created non-humanoid species of plant, animal, and mineral. Humanity seems to be entering a time when, whether by spiritual illumination or rawly desperate survival instincts, it is increasingly intensifying seeking ways to move beyond this apparent, uncomfortable time of knife-edge survival: for many this means more powerfullly experiencing the intimacy of intrinsic Oneness. May this be achieved albeit in spite of the membranes of fear and the illusions of incapacity that have encased so much of humanity today. It is said that the retina of a single human eye contains 127,000,000 rods and cones. May we open the eye of the mind of our heart and the eye of the heart of our mind that sees as if through the unquantifiable, infinite eye of the Creator, so that we can exercise the intentionality to both see and be sensitive to the largest picture of what it means to “go green” and its layers of consequences. May we bring forth an unending “green” harvest of dignity, hope, and peace.
One rejoices in the Interfaith Community Garden being birthed on lands at Lloyds Presbyterian Church, downtown Winston-Salem, or at the Ancestors’ Acre twining with a Jeli Garden still only a sign of hope in the village in Mali so beloved by the Healing Force family. How wondrous that the Ancestors’ Acre here in Winston-Salem, NC, is being lovingly nurtured by Brother Francis and his young friends with special needs and special capacities to love and tend those tiny shoots, those brave forces of life reaching out towards the sun from their patch of earth standing guard within the old school yard whose walls are choking still on asbestos rather than being covered with the hangings of children’s’ crayons drawings and starving still to again be hugged by children’s laughter and amazed learning.
GOKI, by neighbor Suki, whose Garden of Knowledge Institute is birthing one square foot of vegetable garden at a time, seeking to rekindle the power of simple wisdom ways for tending vegetables where one lives and from which one can feed and share and affirm the rooted connection of humanity, one garden at a time. Projects like the “Edible Schoolyard” in Berkeley, or “Food from the Hood” from LA are sprouting up all over. It is as if the Green Lady Tara of Buddhism, often referred to as the goddess of action, is indeed igniting hundreds of thousands of individuals and communities, nation states and world gatherings to take action to be part of “going green”.
Perhaps it would be worthwhile to take a moment to reflect on how many times “green” appears as part of normal parlance…and what “green” can imply. Most of the time “green” carries with it a hopeful or positive sense. But, all that is green does not necessarily carry with it a positive connotation or consequence. See what other phrases you might add to these following and take a moment to reflect on the varieties of nuance that “green” can illicit: green thumb, green around the gills, a greenhorn, giving something the green light, the media Green Room, gangrene, green with envy, green collar jobs, greenbacks, green pastures, green sleeves, jolly Green Giant, evergreens, little green men, Green Peace, etc.
The implication is that the greening process has the intentionality of healing and enabling planetary balance through respectful societal and global prosperity. As a consequence of the responsible participation of individuals and communities, humanity can share in the birthing of a healthier and more balanced life globally. In a sense, humanity is being given the opportunity to participate more positively in the flow of seasons and how they impact various species and even the unfolding of time. May the increasing evidence of a passion for “greening” also be ripe with compassionate insights to an inclusive rippling of a healthy root system, sensitive to the cultural soils into which they spread—to an integrated wisdom that takes into account “greenings” social, cultural, economic, and spiritual impact. The wonder of water harvesting, of alternative energy production, of solution-creating and fiscal prioritization which can enable sustainable real growth to be more than a Millennium Goal, or a renewable Protocol may indeed be the difference that enables this planet and life on it to first survive, and hopefully, thrive.
Let us keep each other in prayer, in action, and in touch, sharing challenges and success stories.
One rejoices in the Interfaith Community Garden being birthed on lands at Lloyds Presbyterian Church, downtown Winston-Salem, or at the Ancestors’ Acre twining with a Jeli Garden still only a sign of hope in the village in Mali so beloved by the Healing Force family. How wondrous that the Ancestors’ Acre here in Winston-Salem, NC, is being lovingly nurtured by Brother Francis and his young friends with special needs and special capacities to love and tend those tiny shoots, those brave forces of life reaching out towards the sun from their patch of earth standing guard within the old school yard whose walls are choking still on asbestos rather than being covered with the hangings of children’s’ crayons drawings and starving still to again be hugged by children’s laughter and amazed learning.
GOKI, by neighbor Suki, whose Garden of Knowledge Institute is birthing one square foot of vegetable garden at a time, seeking to rekindle the power of simple wisdom ways for tending vegetables where one lives and from which one can feed and share and affirm the rooted connection of humanity, one garden at a time. Projects like the “Edible Schoolyard” in Berkeley, or “Food from the Hood” from LA are sprouting up all over. It is as if the Green Lady Tara of Buddhism, often referred to as the goddess of action, is indeed igniting hundreds of thousands of individuals and communities, nation states and world gatherings to take action to be part of “going green”.
Perhaps it would be worthwhile to take a moment to reflect on how many times “green” appears as part of normal parlance…and what “green” can imply. Most of the time “green” carries with it a hopeful or positive sense. But, all that is green does not necessarily carry with it a positive connotation or consequence. See what other phrases you might add to these following and take a moment to reflect on the varieties of nuance that “green” can illicit: green thumb, green around the gills, a greenhorn, giving something the green light, the media Green Room, gangrene, green with envy, green collar jobs, greenbacks, green pastures, green sleeves, jolly Green Giant, evergreens, little green men, Green Peace, etc.
The implication is that the greening process has the intentionality of healing and enabling planetary balance through respectful societal and global prosperity. As a consequence of the responsible participation of individuals and communities, humanity can share in the birthing of a healthier and more balanced life globally. In a sense, humanity is being given the opportunity to participate more positively in the flow of seasons and how they impact various species and even the unfolding of time. May the increasing evidence of a passion for “greening” also be ripe with compassionate insights to an inclusive rippling of a healthy root system, sensitive to the cultural soils into which they spread—to an integrated wisdom that takes into account “greenings” social, cultural, economic, and spiritual impact. The wonder of water harvesting, of alternative energy production, of solution-creating and fiscal prioritization which can enable sustainable real growth to be more than a Millennium Goal, or a renewable Protocol may indeed be the difference that enables this planet and life on it to first survive, and hopefully, thrive.
Let us keep each other in prayer, in action, and in touch, sharing challenges and success stories.
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