In this episode of the podcast How to Save a Planet, you hear of native peoples protesting against oil pipelines because the pipelines break their tribes’ treaty rights, threaten the water and land they rely on, and continue actvities that are propelling our planet towards climate change.
I encourage you to listen to it.
In addition to the sheer bravery and commtiment of the native peoples involved in the protests, two small details of the podcast were particularly striking me.
One was hearing a speaker share that not only did native peoples from around North America rally together at the protests, but there were even indigenous peoples from Ecuador and northern Scandinavia (the Sami) who had traveled to stand with the protesters.
The other was hearing of a group of Quakers from New England who blocked a fuel pumping station at a point along the Line 3 pipeline project route in Minnesota.
Tara Houska, a Native American who is a leader in the protests seeking to stop that pipeline, describes how the Quakers used a piano to block the station and to play beautiful songs together as well. “One of those moments you’ll never forget as long as you live,” she said.
So here’s my question.
What would it take for it to be part and parcel of being a follower of Jesus to defend God’s earth and to help others, whether they are Christians or not, who are doing the same thing?
In other words, what would it take for followers of Jesus to love God, to love people, and to love God’s earth that is full of God’s glory with all of their heart and strength? What would it take to give our highest allegiance to God and what is God’s?
I honestly would like to hear your answers and ideas.
I need to know because seeing that happen is my dream and my prayer.
