Universe as a Communion of Subjects
About 25 years ago, I became familiar with Thomas Berry’s statement that "The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects."1 I have repeated that line like…
Aerial view of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada
A Communion of Subjects
"Have you ever stood in a forest and felt that you weren't simply looking at nature—you were somehow with the forest?" This question was put to me recently, and my…
Hope is Happening: Centering Resilience, Recovery and Healing
One morning, a couple weeks ago, an Instagram post caught my eye: “After decades of decline, Africa’s elephant mega-herds are making a comeback across southern Africa.”1 Really?? I shook my…
Just a Squirrel
The other day I was listening to a lecture on cosmology and evolution by Ilia Delio, noted Franciscan sister, theologian and author. In it she describes our evolution from a…
Healing the Earth with Rewilding
Let the great rewilding of the world begin with you Let yourself be absorbed into something larger and Less tame than your isolated self. (Lorraine Anderson) Recently a heading in…
The Landscape: Nature and Emotions
I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.' - Sylvia Plath, writer, in The Bell…
A New Mission in Napier, New Zealand
Baby swan plants being lovingly tended Laudato Si' challenges us to “care for the natural environment and all people …,” and so a new mission has started in Napier, New…
Laudato Si’ and Samoa
The more we love Planet Earth the more we will reverence and protect our natural environment. The more we love Planet Earth, the more we will be aware that we…
Responding to Climate Change in New Zealand
There are few who would claim that climate change is good for us. What is particularly problematic for me as a New Zealander are the different responses currently being suggested.…
The Beauty of Soil Part II
Previously, I left you with this question: “How does a gardener, who knows soil is alive with so many creatures, look after the soil?” Generally, gardeners care for the physical…