Earth Healing www.earthhealing.info

A series of written
meditations
and reflections

TOWARDS AN AUTHENTIC ECO-SPIRITUALITY

By Al Fritsch, S.J.

This book is offered here free of charge. Any reference or
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the author.

    An authentic eco-spirituality assists us in understanding our
responsibilities as citizens of this fragile planet and encourages
us to take proper remedial action. The urgent task before us makes
this a spirituality leading to action, to preserving what is
threatened, and to healing what is wounded. Such threats as
global warming, extinction of species, air and water pollution, and
unsustainable resource extraction practices require the concerted
effort of all of us, working together in an effective manner.
Spiritualities which distract from such urgent pursuits by placing
too much emphasis on the individual's self-fulfillment, by
expecting others to do the work, or by diminishing the cooperative
efforts required are not authentic. The pursuit of authenticity
takes goes beyond mere acquisition of information and techniques.
We must address our individual and collective lack of will power,
a persistent problem in an affluence-ridden culture.

The nagging problem of burn-out impels us to reflect more
deeply, to pray for guidance, and to know our limitations. We look
for a discernment process which will sort through and distinguish
the eco-problems facing us, their possible solutions, and our
ability to help heal what is damaged. This discernment invites the
possible contribution of a time-honored Ignatian spirituality to
the environmental movement, which can also gain much from the
Benedictine rhythm of work and prayer and the Franciscan emphasis
on the wholeness of all creation. Through proper discernment we
can discover the good spirit prompting us and, simultaneously, to
expose and distance ourselves from evil and wayward temptations.

The call is ever deeper and involves joining forces with people
of good will who strive to repair environmental degradation and
prevent future destruction of the planet. All the while these see
the terrible conditions facing the poor folks who live near
polluting industries or clearcut forests. We know something must
be done, but our wills are weak. Honestly, why should we
interfere? Why get our own hands dirty? And a deeper question: is
this lack of will power due to our individual and collective
addiction to consumer goods and our prevailing affluence? Are we
in the so-called developed world insensitive to the poor both at
home and abroad? Are we seeking to justify an immunity from
further soul searching when it comes to consumer luxuries? Are we
aware of the poor who lack wholesome food, clean water, necessary
energy, and affordable housing?

An authentic eco-spirituality must be placed squarely in the
framework of both sustainability of the planet and social justice
for all the human family. Both Earth and people must be present
within our spiritual purview. In fact, we simply can't be
spiritually alive and forgetful of the deep cleavages dividing the
family of creation. Such people are candidates for a spirituality
with an attached discerning process that focuses on the Earth. To
be authentic we need to recognize the here (current situation of
our Earth), the we (all healing agents), and the now (current
planetary problems which must be addressed today). Furthermore, an
authentic eco-spirituality is based on the laws of ecology and must
be spiritually uplifting by exhibiting glory in the goodness of
Creation, showing compassion with those who suffer, and sharing in
the diverse healing arts as extended to the Earth.

RECOGNIZING THE GOODNESS OF ALL CREATION
Here, and not there. We observe more closely those parts of
our creation which are not in the distant heavens but are close to
us -- right under our feet. Starting right here gives us a sense
of orientation, of direction, and of kinship with other nearby
creatures. This kinship is what mystics like Francis of Assisi
championed centuries ago in talking to and feeding birds and fish.
All creatures are good and we extend our respect for them through
human/non-human interaction. We are on a journey together with all
creatures of the Earth. Our collective welfare is closely linked
with them, a rainbow gathering of many species.

All creatures are interdependent. This is an elementary
principle of ecology worth further reflection. We human beings are
not splendid isolationists, but caretakers on a modern day Noah's
ark or spaceship Earth. A spirituality of overlords, masters, big
game shooters and colonialists encourages a conquest of parts of
the world for selfish purposes -- a deliberate choice to be
selective in participation to the exclusion of those to whom we owe
so much for our own existence, even though it is not always self-
evident. Upon prayerful reflection we see that the goodness of the
Creator is reflected in all creation and is bathed in an atmosphere
of mutual respect for others, whether human or non-human. We are
called to be gentle, to see our own limitations, to foster care for
all creatures, so that in protecting the local environment we might
extend our sharing to wider vistas.

    BEING SENSITIVE TO ALL WHO SUFFER
    We, not They. When we see and are willing to look squarely at
the misdeeds done to our Earth by human greed and ignorance, we are
deeply moved. However, we still must control our emotions so that
we can perform meaningful action. We cannot excuse ourselves from
entering into the action, nor deny that the injustice is occurring,
nor follow the temptation to escape and leave the battle to others.
Yes, our spirituality calls us to face the cause of the suffering -
- and to be willing to co-suffer (compassion) with victims whoever
they are.

    Natural processes obey the Law of Conservation of Resources.
A scientific understanding of applied thermodynamics allows us to
realize not only our interconnectedness with other creatures, but
that these laws extend even to individual and collective suffering.
Nothing is lost; all suffering has ultimate gain, if we but look
at the big picture. A spirituality which directly confronts the
causes of suffering, whether disease, pollution, resource
depletion, etc., will be more ready to have compassion (suffer with
another) among all creatures. Compassionate people do not wish for
or condone the suffering, but accept it as part of a deepening
mystery of human and ecological redemption. Compassion with other
co-sufferers is counter to a spirituality of total self
centeredness, or a fleeing from suffering as unbecoming or beneath
one's station in life.

WILLINGNESS TO BE OPEN IN CELEBRATION
Now, not then. So often people want to put matters off to
another time, or live in the past that attempts to walk backward in
history. No, we should not wait until tomorrow when we must start
to heal the Earth today. An authentic spirituality accepts the
kairos, the now of our life. Others potentially could do a better
job, but it is risky to wait for them to surface -- if they will.
The call is for us to seize the moment and to do so as best we can
with our limited resources, confident that our imperfect but good
intentions will inspire others to join us.

    Variation and richness of diversity add to the health and
harmony of the total eco-system. It is difficult to prove that one
threatened species is important for the survival of the planet, but
we can argue from numbers: the richness of ultimate well-being of
the Earth depends on the interaction of a greater diversity of
beings. The beauty, wholesomeness and ultimate health of the
system is at stake. It is good that such creatures exist, and we
find value in the rich diversity of plants and animals around us.
To diminish this richness of diversity diminishes us as part of the
family of all creation.

    An impoverished spirituality is reflected by a noted
classicist who, upon hearing that half the world's languages will
disappear before the year 2100, said "who cares, the others aren't
worth much anyway." The inability to recognize value in the
variety of plants, animals -- or human languages and cultures -- is
to fail to see diversity as an enhancing quality and our ultimate
celebration -- truly, a fruit of the Spirit. There's a thin line
between such impoverishment or cultural elitism and acceptance of
arguments for allowing the destruction of species for our own self
or economic interests. Threatened tribal land is suitable for a
hydroelectric dam impoundment; a species' habitat is better used
for housing or industrial development. Such narrow approaches
limit the openness for celebrating diversity in its many forms. It
betrays a lack of wonder and respect, and bodes badly for the
planet.

General Reflection
An all-good God creates, redeems, and invites us into the noble
task of re-creating this damaged Earth. We enter into this mystery
with praise, compassion, and a sense of being open to celebration
of the diversity of creation. With these basic qualities we seek
an ecumenical and interreligious dialogue with others, even while
recognizing that some eco-spiritualities may not be authentic or
enlivening. And part of an eco-spirituality is to interact with
all spiritualities which strive to heal, and to enhance their
vitality.