Day 17

"When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.'"

John 6:12

As some of you may know, Wes and I have been making a pretty good effort to be easier on the environment. I've always been a recycler, but I just recently read about how recycling should actually be our last-ditch effort. We frequently forget about "reduce" and "reuse," which are much better ways to help our environment. For example, buying a used car is much better than buying a new car and then recycling it when you're done. Using less water is better than developing a system to recycle water within your house. Although a lot of poeple have made great strides in recycling, we usually forget that there are earlier steps in the process that would help the earth more.

After reading many articles and books about being environmentally responsible, I have started to look more closely at my day-to-day habits. Do I really need to print something out, or can I save a file instead of using a piece of paper? Can I shower by the light of the sun in the mornings, or do I really need to turn the overhead light on? The little things we do on an everyday basis are really the things that make a difference.

Why was Jesus so concerned with collecting the leftovers from this feast of bread and fish? Was it simply so that the amount of leftovers could be recorded, or was there a higher purpose? In this story in John, Jesus clearly states that the purpose is to avoid waste. During Jesus' lifetime, food and wealth were hard to come by, so one can assume that he collected these leftovers to continue to feed himself, his followers, and/or the poor. Yet Jesus is also the Son of God, who created the universe and everything in it. Perhaps his concern for not wasting is related to the beauty and fragility of the earth, and reminds us that part of our duty as faithful people is to care for the earth and all that is in it.