![\"foliage\"](\"https:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/foliage-500x281.jpeg\")
\nThe bitter-cold air batters my face as I cycle to work under the elm trees. December two and the yellow-orange-pink foliage are still giant brush strokes against the blue sky. Full of leaves. Such beauty!<\/p>\n
And such horror, as we clock up yet another \u201cwarmest year on record.”<\/p>\n
We are riding the wave of the Anthropocene \u2013 the Age of Humans. The 6th<\/sup> planetary spree of species extinction \u2013 the first of human doing \u2013 spurred by the lure of cheap energy, greed, freedom, and immortality.<\/p>\n We are the last surfers Such beauty. Such sorrow. We do our best to hold them both.<\/p>\n Grief and love.<\/p>\n We grieve for the beloved things we\u2019ve lost. And we fear for all we may yet lose.<\/p>\n So much unknown. And so much mystery.<\/p>\n How do we find footholds in the molten reality?<\/p>\n The wise men and women say start with gratitude. So there let us start.<\/p>\n Look up into the sky and say thank you to the sun, whose sunlight showers down upon us. Sunlight. The closest material proof of the love of God that exists.<\/p>\n Say thank you for the sunrise.<\/p>\n Thank you to your first breath of the morning.<\/p>\n Say thank you for the chance \u2013 even if it feels tenuous and small \u2013 to use this consciousness for something unique, something great.<\/p>\n Thank you for the other souls \u2013 rock, flower, bird and human \u2013 we get to explore life with.<\/p>\n Say thank you to life. To life itself. A gift from a loving God who is love.<\/p>\n Say thank you for the challenge we have. Each thank you is a foothold.<\/p>\n Say thank you.<\/p>\n
\ntoo far from shore
\nas the sun sets \u2013
\nand the waves are getting bigger.<\/p>\n
\nOur first love.
\nThe Tasmanian Tiger.
\nYouth.
\nThe Passenger Pigeon.
\nIdealism.
\nSea mink.<\/p>\n
\nTo reflect that love back. In repayment for that life-giving sunlight.
\nInto our own heart,
\non those around us who we love,
\nand even to those we find hardest to love.<\/p>\n