Liturgy 3
We are called to serve, protect, and restore the earth vs.
We stand over and against the earth and can do what we please
Reflection by Sadie Gould

How does the counter liturgy appear in your own life or surroundings?

Believing that we can do what we please to the earth is a selfish view. It is all too easy to live our lives without regard to the world around us, caught up in our own personal bubbles. Chapter 3 of Liturgies of Restoration addresses this thought by reminding us of our duty as Christians, taken directly from Gen. 1:28: to have dominion over creation. However, we are guilty of interpreting this to mean domination when in reality it has to do with service. No one shows this better than Jesus, who devoted his life to serve and suffer for the good of others. Everywhere around me I see the mindset of the counter-liturgy. For example, in the restaurant I work at, pounds and pounds of food are wasted each night. We don’t compost it, donate it, or reuse it. And no one is more guilty of doing nothing than I am. We live in an unfortunate world where we are tempted to hide from taking action because it is too much of an inconvenience to the regular rhythm and comfort of our ordinary lives.

What habits or practices have most helped you to resist the counter-liturgy and live out the truth of the liturgy?

Some habits that have helped me to resist this false ideology are rooted in Scripture. Although the Bible does not directly address many ecological concerns, it should be the foundation of our desires to restore the world and everything in it. Prayer is an extremely important part of the Christian life and it is such a blessing to me to know that the Lord hears me and is sovereign, even though my plans and hopes for the world may not be His. As my dad says, “When it’s hard to pray, it’s good to pray.” Besides this practice, the Liturgies workbook encourages us to pick up after ourselves and recognize our local watershed, both of which are simple but meaningful habits to get into. Finally, I have the privilege of directing the creation stewardship committee at my school. This role has given me the opportunity to strive towards a more environmentally sustainable campus and encourage others. It is definitely worth the effort.

What is something you started doing at Au Sable that you’ve carried with you into your life back home? How is that shaping you?

Something that I learned to do at Au Sable was to find a secluded place in nature to sit, pause, and reflect. When you are intentional about setting aside the time in your busy schedule to pause and enjoy the stillness, you will see how there is so much more to the world than what first meets the eye. Suddenly, the falling of a leaf from a tree, flutter of a bird’s wing, or gust of wind becomes so much more. This little habit has strengthened my mental health, taught me so many things from observation alone, and instilled in me a new desire to learn and protect what God loves. I am fully confident that enjoying God’s creation does not take away from it, but in some mysterious, unexplainable way brings glory to the Creator, fulfilling our chief purpose in life.

How has your life of worship and understanding of God shifted as a result of practicing this liturgy?

Simply put, my worship and understanding of God have been significantly impacted by my time at Au Sable. Once I made the connection that what the Lord reveals to us in Scripture and in nature are interrelated and inseparable, I felt a huge burden fall away. It is freeing to be able to say with confidence: “I want to care for creation because it brings glory to God.” Any strange looks from people who think I’m a crazy environmentalist or biting words from those who disagree with me disappear with the knowledge that God looks down on me and smiles, seeing not a wretched and lost sinner, but a redeemed child. Without Christ’s sacrifice we might have reason to give up hope in the midst of rejection and defeat. Just remember that He was once rejected so that we might be accepted into the Kingdom. Because we have assurance of His eternal love for us, we can rejoice unashamedly, for His power is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9).