The Sounds of Nature
It was a delight to participate at the Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference. It was a hybrid event with most people participating and joining online. For many of us who attended in person, the conference became a fortuitous time of reconnecting with old friends and making new connections with people who are engaging with climate justice work.
I presented a workshop on “Rethinking God and Creation Care”. Some of us do not see the connection between how we view God and how this affects our actions, beliefs, and lifestyles. We only have words to talk about God and we use metaphors to help us get to a deeper and more meaningful understanding of God.
Traditionally, the metaphors for God have been King, Master, Almighty, Sovereign, Lord etc. These metaphors are masculine, powerful, and domineering. This perception of God impacts how we live, act, and behave as it gives us permission to also be dominate and domineering to others and to nature.
We need to move away from images and metaphors of God which promote domination and colonialism, so that we can work towards a sustainable lifestyle that endorses and advocates for creation care and climate justice. I am on a theological journey to rethink God in terms of non-masculine and non-dominant metaphors.
At the conference, I attended a workshop by Jean Brown, “Potter’s Wheel Earthen Hands”. At this workshop we were invited to do a nature walk which inspired me to write a poem. I am not a poet, but please enjoy this short poem, “The Sounds of Nature.”
The Sounds of Nature
The fallen twigs and browning leaves
crunched under my sole.
A few feet away the bubbling stream
created a soothing sound for my busy mind.
The careful swaying of the branches
welcomed me in their midst.
And the quiet drumming of the insects
provided a symphony of enchanting sounds.
For what I thought to be a quiet nature walk,
turned out to be an overwhelming sensory experience
of God’s beauty in the world.
The unfamiliar sounds of creation that
I often overlook or ignore in the city
became an orchestra of life,
and the splendor of God’s Spirit.
I was completely drawn to the delightful ensemble
of nature’s sounds enveloping my body
and reminding me that we are never far from the presence of God.
Special Events:
1.I will be at Homebrewed Christianity’s Theology Beer Camp. Please join me and use discount code “madanggodpod” to get 25.00 off registration.
2.I look forward to presenting a paper, ““Postcolonialism, Hybridity and Resistance: Working Towards a Hybrid Theology” at Land, People and Culture Conference at Dar al-Kalima University in Palestine (September 28 – October 5, 2023).
3.Grateful to Homebrewed Christianity and Garrett Seminary for sponsoring Madang Podcast. Please check out their programs, degrees, events and register.