Circa 1960 – Déjà vu! It was like a flashback – weekend…
Saturday was Earth Day! In 2020 they will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary…
“They say” that when it comes to the planet earth – there is “no time to wait!”
Earth Day 2017’s Campaign was all about: “Environmental & Climate Literacy.”
Education is seen as being the “foundation for progress.” Needed is “a global citizenry” fluent in the concepts of “climate change” and aware of its “unprecedented threat” to our planet.
Their website says: “Environmental and climate literacy” is the “engine” not only for creating “green voters” and “advancing environmental and climate laws and policies” but also for “accelerating green technologies and jobs.”
But of course, not everybody agrees or is on the same page on this one!
I remember back in the day, when Earth Day was all about recycling and the planting of trees. Especially in light of various forest fires…
It was a day and a time to roll up your sleeves and to get a little dirty to help out the environment.
There was even a First Lady – named “Ladybird” who spoke about planting trees and bushes and bulbs…
I recall a green ecology flag. In Racine, the day was used for Root River cleanup!
People would also take the time and clean up our beaches and our lake front areas. I am so old, that I can remember when there were “fines” associated with littering on our roads and highways…and even public service announcements on TV…about not being a litterbug.
That is probably where the idea came from – for supportive groups and agencies cleaning up and adopting our highway system…
If you are old like me, then you probably remember stacks and stacks of old tied newspapers that would be saved sometimes for years and even for decades – that all would be eventually recycled. They had a very distinctive smell to them…
I recall the Boy Scouts recycling old newspapers…
My family recycled all aluminum cans, glass and certain kinds of plastics…the city of Racine had numerous recycling centers…located throughout the area…
This past weekend also coincidentally saw “the Science March.”
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday in Washington DC, and in at least 600 other cities – around the world, – in what “may have been” one of the “largest-ever demonstrations” in support of “scientific research” and “evidence-based policymaking.” It was definitely a first!
It was a weekend kind of reminiscent of the 1960’s.
It really truly was a different day and a different time…back then…
Some of our very own young people from our church gathered together to help with yard clean up for one of our members…and she was so thankful for their assistance and their help!!!
And along comes Jesus, popping into locked rooms and saying, Peace, baby!
OK so he really didn’t say “Peace Baby” – he would have said something more appropriate like, “Shalom.”
And of course, shalom is the Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, completeness, prosperity, and welfare and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.
And his words of peace and wholeness could not have come at a better time. His disciples needed something to latch on upon, and here he was – present with them and with words of encouragement.
All of this … following his horrendous crucifixion and death…
“The peace of Jesus” is not the peace of the world. His peace is all encompassing.
Previously Jesus had spoken of peace – but both times – were as an antidote to fear. This is different. This time it is not just about fear…this time, he seems to be saying something more…
Now if the disciples were in shock after Jesus’ death, if they were huddled together in fear in that upper room, then, they were certainly shocked, amazed and spellbound at his appearance to them.
He comes and he reclaims them as his own.
Think about it – “Peace be with you.”
Is it a wish for the chaos and the turmoil in your life to become settled?
Or, is it a declaration of certainty and assurance for the future?
Or in other words, is it a prayer for things to ultimately get better?
Or, is it a promise that they definitely will?
Is it perhaps a “resurrected peace?”
Or is it – all of the above, plus so much more?
At any rate, Jesus offered “his peace.”
And the disciples lives started to change.
May the peace of the Lord be with you – always! I pray it is so.