Living in Hope During Urgent Times for God's Earth

The theme of the third week of Advent is hope. Hope for the coming Christ Child, but also the restoration of all of Creation. While hope for the future requires patience, we cannot wallow in apathy, despair, or inaction. We must live in hope and vigorously work towards a world where we live justly with all of Creation. This Advent, I invite you to invest in Creation Justice Ministries; invest in the long-term work which builds capacity for urgent action now... and onwards.

Once or twice a year, I run a trail ultra-marathon. This is typically between a 6- and 12-hour endeavor. Though I commute by bike daily, this is the single most immersed I am in nature. Whether deep in a muddy trail before dawn, a strange downpour of slush (also before dawn), winding through a meadow of wildflowers, or eating a quesadilla while running through the beautiful fall light, the immediacy and intensity of such a run is an important reminder of human finitude and God’s good work. It is also a lesson in hope. There is urgency— “just need to make it to the next aid station,” but also patience. I can’t make it go much more quickly, but there are immediate and necessary steps to take right now.

​This coming year’s Earth Day resource is themed "The Fierce Urgency of Now.” Recent studies highlight that the degradation of God’s good earth is even more urgent then previously thought. This urgency requires that we invest in the work of Creation Justice Ministries. Through such investing in the long-term work, we build capacity for urgent action now, and onwards.

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Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler is a Creation Justice Ministries board member. He directs the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy and co-pastors the Washington City Church of the Brethren with his spouse Rev. Jenn Hosler.