By Shosh Dworsky
The earth is not ours. The first humans, according to Genesis 2:15, were placed in the Garden of Eden, “To till and to tend” (Genesis 2:15). “To till” is to be in relationship with the earth in order to grow that which will sustain us. “To tend” is to protect it. To till and to tend means to live sustainably.
From the beginning we have had trouble striking this balance. The story of the Garden of Eden tells us there was just one tree that God designated as off limits to humans, but the first humans just couldn’t resist. The first human mis-deed was environmental over-reach. And we’ve continued in this vein.
This ancient story should goad us to look in the mirror, at how we ourselves live, and inspire us to corrective action. For opportunities on campus check out go.carleton.edu/sustainability, and put 7th week, Climate Action Week, on your calendar.
And please join with the chapel community as we celebrate the ancient Jewish “Festival of Trees” / Tu B’Shvat on February 7. Everyone is invited to share a meal, and to bring sources from their own traditions – ancient, modern, religious, secular – to inspire us to live more sustainably; to till and to tend this garden called earth which, the psalmist reminds us, is not ours.