This recent blast of below freezing weather in February got me reminiscing about my childhood. Growing up on a farm brought lots of area to run, play, fish, and explore. And when it snowed there was even more exploration as we had to find the best sledding spot or the biggest snow drift. My siblings and I would trudge all over our property zipping down every small hill or formations we found. One year the temperatures were so bitter that our pond froze over. It was solid enough that my whole family was able to go out and play on it, sliding across the slippery ice.  I was really young at the time but I remember enjoying the moment and how incredible it was to be out on the middle of the pond. 

It was that next year when it got cold again and snowed that I found myself at the edge of the pond looking out over the sheet of ice on top of it. Me being so little thought it was just the same as the year before and longed to be out in the middle of the ice. I took a few steps onto the sheet of ice as I slowly started to move away from the side. Suddenly the ice cracked and I shot down into the water below me. Luckily I was only a few steps out and the water went to about my knees. I quickly got up and fearfully ran all the way back to the house where I received a stern talking to about the dangers of frozen bodies of water.  

I realize looking back that the side I stepped out onto was the lowest of all the sides of the pond. If I had tried to do this at any other spot especially the embankment side I would have sank deeply into the water. I don't tell you this story saying "God saved me" as I don't think that was the case. Though I do believe God is always with us, prayers work, and there are blessings that happen which are unexplainable. I tell you this because sometimes the slightest decision can make all the difference in a life. A fraction of a second slower, going right instead of left, or even stepping out on the shorter side of a pond. And sometimes those differences are the work of prayers and love being sent to someone else. Life is precious and its important we use our instincts, intuition, and brains to make good decisions. We never know when our time will be up and so we must hold the ones we love, sit with those we care about, laugh until our bellies ache, do what we have always wished to do, and share our feelings with others while we can.  ​

Thank you to all those who continue to follow along.  May your hearts be full!

This week hug those close to you and share with them how much you love them! 

Election Day is almost here! Some people are excited about what the future holds while others are ready for advertisements and random text messages to cease. Soon enough it will all be over and we will move forward with those we have chosen to represent us. 

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I see voting as a civic duty.  Its sharing your opinion on who you think can attack the relevant issues taking place both locally and nationally.  Voting has become a mechanism for people to make change.  It is where the collective voice is heard not just mine individually.  Sometimes my voice will be with the majority while others it may not. Despite the outcomes it is in the act of voting that is important because it deliberately declares I have a voice and it will be counted.

How does this all relate to Christianity?  Jesus wanted everyones voice to be heard. He overthrew the systems in place to turn everything upside down. He understood the discrimination and injustice and wanted to end it. Jesus healed the unclean, worked on the Sabbath, and spoke with woman and those outcast. He did this because he loved them, wanted them to be in relationship with God, and for them to have basic rights. Their voice mattered to him and he wanted the best for them. Today when so much matters on the resources available, economy, etc. voting matters.  It gives people a voice and is a mechanism for change in this world. To me it seems like something Jesus would have advocated for.  


Let's look closer at few things regarding voting. ​

Voter Suppression 

Preventing individuals from voting has been happening since the beginning of the country.  It was originally only white males that could vote unless you lived in New Jersey.  New Jersey allowed single woman to vote up until 1807 when the state restricted their right to match the rest of the country. African Americans were unable to vote until 1870.  And women who had campaigned for 70 years finally were given the right in 1920. You can read more about this in Erin Geiger Smith's new book "Thank You for Voting" which talks about the history and current dynamics of voting in America. One interesting fact is that voting is on Tuesday because of farmers schedule back in the 1700's.  

​Today allowing individuals to vote has become a political game. This comes with closing down polling stations so people have to stand in long line for hours at a time. Creating additional registration requirements or deadlines for people to access their right to vote. Moving polling stations outside of town so those without transportation are unable to vote. This strategy impacts the poor and impoverished by creating more difficulty for them to vote. Dodge City did this in 2018 which received national news. My point is Jesus fought for the poor and when we continue to create divisions to prevent people from acting on a constitutional right then I think we are not living up to our ideals.

Early Voting/ Mail In

Early voting or mail in ballots have been done state wide in Oregon since 1996 for all elections. They saw an increase in voting percentage meaning more people get to have a voice in what is happening.  Washington moved to do this in 2011. Utah and Colorado started using mail in voting in 2013.  The accessibility also saw an increase in voter percentage. In today's busy world and election day being on a working Tuesday, it only makes sense to give people additional options to fulfill their constitutional right.  


For those worried about voter fraud with mail in ballots check out this New York City of Law report. You can also check out heritage.org and look at the numbers. It's not saying it doesn't happen its saying the number is so insignificant that it has no impact.  Most voter fraud comes from clerical errors.  Kansas, Kris Kobach only prosecuted 4 cases of voter fraud after indicating it was a major problem.  Obviously we all want safe elections.  We have been having elections for some time and I believe we do this well. In the middle of a pandemic we need to look at all options to keep people safe but we should be doing this anyways just to increase peoples rights.  

VOTE!

The whole point of all this is for you to go out and vote and advocate for others to vote! If you really believe in the constitution and that everyone should have a right as equal people to have a say then get out and vote.  Get your friends, neighbors, and anyone you can to fulfill their civic duty either by mail or in person. 

This week advocate for others to vote!

Recently my wife and I took a trip to the country of Iceland for our ten year anniversary. It was an amazing trip with awesome views, wonderful people, and great food. We loved learning about their culture and country.

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One interesting thing is Iceland has eliminated the use of plastic bags. Every supermarket required you take your own bags in or just take the groceries to the car. When I researched this I found the supermarkets in Iceland vowed in 2018 to eliminate all plastic bags by 2023. Check out the article here.  It appeared to me they are already very close to reaching that goal. The people we talked to had positive things to say about removing plastic bags from their country. It was apparent that it happened very quickly and people just adapted. 

So why is plastic so bad for the world?

1. Plastic doesn't biodegrade so it photo degrades to small pieces covering the ocean. Marine animals mistake it for plankton because there is 6 times as much, which ends up killing animals when they eat it.

2. 10% of the plastic we use each year ends up in the ocean. The rest of it becomes waste we cannot get rid of.  FYI the world uses somewhere between 500 billion to 1 trillion bags in one year.  

3. The production of plastic uses about 8% of our oil resource. 

4. Toxic chemicals leak out of plastics affecting people's health, groundwater, and environments. 
                     (Facts from The World Counts)

For more information you can also check out this video by Discovery Channel talking about the impact of plastic on our world.  It tells you what the Great Pacific Garbage Patch really is.  ​

For instance I enjoy going on adventures and exploring new things. I think one of the greatest things we can do it is explore and experience others cultures. However does the consumption of resources for this to happen become greed at some point? Should we be happy and at ease with what we have? I'm not sure there is a correct answer for this but something each of us have to figure out for ourselves. What do you think?


Caring About Our World


​When we feel apart of the world or creation around us our spirituality is enhanced. We realize its not just me but we! We are in this together and we all are parts of the whole. Our spirituality can actually be connected to the environment. Jocelyn Mercado talks about this some in her article "The Spiritual Side of Environmentalism." Dr. Roger Gottlieb also discusses this in the article "Why Spirituality and the Environmentalism Need Each Other."


It seems when we work towards positive solutions for the earth we are also deepening our spirituality. What does it mean to be spiritual? Is it not also being connected to our environment? I find caring for the earth and trying to conserve what I can, enhances my spiritual life. Its what we do as a society which shapes the culture we live in. If we choose to be more environmental friendly than there is a better chance others will too.  


Ways To Care For The World

Here are just a few ways we can care for our world in our everyday lives. 

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1. Eliminate plastic straws from your life - Straws get stuck in marine animals noses. Check it out on youtube.  You can buy reusable metal straws instead! 

6. Avoid Printing - Get digital receipts, make notes on iPhone or ipad, and if you do print reuse the paper. I love reading actual books but digital books and audio books are excellent ways to save paper.  


​7. Do Not Use Styrofoam - Avoid cost saving efforts and get something that is able to be recycled. It's not that much more and is much better for the environment.  

10. Fix Things - Fixing things yourself does two things. It prevents other material from having to be used and you feel self accomplished.  ​

I'm so glad you all care so much about God's creation! Thanks for following along.  

This week take up one of these or some other way to care for the world!