Feet in 2 camps

Because I don't have a one-track mind, I seem to have a foot in each of two camps of thought - related, though not outrightly so. Bear with me as I ramble on!

For years I've been interested in the increasing lack of community, "real" food, growing-up-in-nature childhoods and issues of sustainability. I've put a lot of research hours into learning how to live with minimum impact on resources, how to build and live sustainably, and how to raise my child to be healthy and happy. I've discovered the radical side of earth protection and the live-and-let-live side. There are hermits who shut themselves away in their own litttle paradises, and there are those who strive to make a difference where they are - sometimes developing things like city gardens, or training those around them in the knowledge they've found.

My other foot is in the emerging church camp. I've had a hunger for MORE in church, God, Christianity, living - for years now. And I've put a lot of research hours into reading, learning, absorbing - starting to sound similar to the above yet? As in the Green-ish camp, there's a radical side, and there's a live-and-let-live side. There are hermits who shut themselves away from anything to do with the past, and there are those who go out into the community they're in.

What an amazing number of similarities!

With a foot each side of the fence, it's hard to read an article about one without having flashbacks to the other.

Take this article, for example, which talks about how Americans are disconnecting from where their food comes from - a lot of kids are disgusted to find where milk comes from!:) In the same breath the article bemoans a lack of community, the closing down of community-based businesses (where everyone knows everyone) and take-over of the mega-business. There's no more personal relationship between producer and consumer, or a relationship of interaction. Sound familiar? Yup, no community in church, no-one knows you, the preacher talks at, not to, you and the mega-church has replaced the little country one.

The article goes on to talk about the self-abusive love of fast food. Fast-food-religion too perhaps? Go once a week, pay for your hour, go home. Not too good for you, but it tastes ok and it's easier than slaving in the kitchen to get at the good stuff.

Consider this paragraph from an emerging church point of view:

"In general, sustainable farmers succeed by focusing on the weaknesses of industrial systems of food and farming. Instead of specializing, they diversify. Instead of standardizing, they individualize. And instead of consolidating, they form interdependent relationships."

Or this:

"Relationship markets are built on personal connectedness, and such connections are far easier to establish and maintain where farmers, processors, retailers, and customers all live in geographic proximity. And it will be far easier to meet the diverse needs and preferences of consumers with a network of interdependent decision-makers rather than with some grand global scheme of corporate central planning."

Hmmm... There are just way too many similarities here!

Now I'm not advocating trying to save the world by community action without God, but I'm also saying we can't have community God without doing something about where we are and how we live as consumers of resources. I really, really think they go hand-in-hand. Respect for God, love for Him, implies that we are good stewards of what He's given us - not only of the people around us, but of the resources in our care. Cash, our house, our choices, our land. We can't preach community care without caring for what's in the community too.

But I think I'll get off my soapbox now. 'nuff said.