Beyond appreciating beauty: Why caring for Mother Earth is a spiritual mandate

April is an environmentally-friendly month. It includes the annual observance of Earth Day and Arbor Day. One of my favorite hymns is “For the Beauty of the Earth.” It’s a piece of religious poetry that celebrates the glory of this time of year that is blossoming around us. The composer’s lyrics traditionally sung to a poignant melody are appropriate to sing or simply contemplate.

And speaking of Earth Day, I remember when that relatively new holiday was first established. It coincided with my 18th birthday. As my graduation from Wenatchee High School drew near, our senior class of 1970 was invited to contemplate the sacred nature of creation in an outdoor assembly. Crowded against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the Kent State shootings, and other anti-establishment protests, Earth Day mattered little to me. It was lost in the plethora of politically-charged initiatives.

Now fast-forward 56 years. I am keenly aware of the natural beauty Father God has birthed around us through Mother Nature. Spring is a season that heightens that beauty. The flowering rhododendrons and cherry and dogwood trees punctuate the theological doctrines of new birth and resurrection.

Old things pass away. New things come. My neighbors and I are blessed to live in a virtual arboretum envied by the rest of the world.

Experiencing spring where I live in the Pacific Northwest causes me to wonder if Elizabeth Barrett Browning wasn’t walking through my neighborhood when she was inspired to write “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God.”

My friend Michael Medved, acclaimed movie critic and cultural commentator, claims with a twinkle in his eye that the island where I live is the Garden of Eden.

Daniel Lapin, another friend who is an orthodox rabbi agrees. Before moving away from our community, Rabbi Lapin told me he views this corner of God’s Kingdom as remarkably sacred. Now, I know that not everybody sees the Creator’s fingerprints in His handiwork that surrounds us.

But recognizing the mystery of the Creator’s natural order does not automatically equate to taking responsibility to preserve it. Truly seeing the beauty of creation calls for an appropriate response.

Browning’s poem moves beyond simply acknowledging the glory of God in nature. She quickly adds, “ … only he who sees, takes off his shoes — The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”

No wonder Michael Medved, who lives near me, isn’t content to simply praise our island as the crown jewel of God’s creation. His knowledge calls him to action. Sincerely believing it is a pristine garden of sacred beauty, Michael can be seen picking up litter throughout Mercer Island. His determination to keep our island clean is almost obsessive-compulsive. For Michael, it is a spiritual mandate.

Several years ago, I was strolling down a trail near our home. Taking my cues from Michael, I was gathering all the garbage strewn alongside the path and in the bushes. Among the trash I accumulated was a crumpled and stained Starbucks cup. On the side of the cup was one of those “As I See It” quotes. This one was by former news anchor Tom Brokaw. It read …

“It will do us little good to wire the world if we short-circuit our souls. There is no delete button for racism, poverty or sectarian violence. No keystroke can ever clean the air, save a river, preserve a forest. This transformational new technology must be an extension of our hearts as well as of our minds. The old rules still apply. Love your mother — Mother Earth.”

I couldn’t believe it. The disconnect was laughable. Brokaw’s words obviously had fallen on deaf ears. The very thing he was calling for had become part of a growing dilemma. Fortunately, we can make a difference.

While the earth IS the Lord’s and the glory thereof, He has entrusted us with privilege of being caretakers (and litter gatherers) of that which contains his glory. Why not make this month’s commemoration of Earth Day and Arbor Day holidays worth celebrating all year long?

• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes about faith and family.