Spring Swimming

On March 22^nd, the afternoon where the temperature reached the 80's, Margy and I went to the beach at Winslow Park, and actually took a dip in the ocean waters of that tidal bay. What a treat. 

But still, it created a foreboding after-effect in my heart. It is easy to feel delighted by the early blossoms, and the summer like temperatures. But on the other hand, we know it doesn't reflect good news for our future on our planet. Garrison Keillor talked about it on a Prairie Home Companion. He said people in Lake Wobegon felt ill at ease in the too warm spring—it was like entering a forbidden room in the house while your parents are away. Something isn't right about it.

We know that global warming is shifting the earth and the seasons, and that means changing our assumptions about everything. Even the garden companies have changed the zones for planting, as the lowest winter temperatures inch upwards. Now climate change is no longer an “if” but a process already started.

April is the month that we traditionally celebrate Earth Day. This year, since our Ferry Beach retreat will be the weekend of April 20-22, we will officially have our celebration on April 29^th. But we also think of the entire month as a month for renewing our connection and commitment to this planet we call mother and home.

This year has another anniversary that is on my mind. May 6^th will be the 150^th anniversary of the death of Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau is counted among our Unitarian ancestors and has been an inspiration for many in deepening our relationship to the earth and fueling our activism for justice. I decided to let him be an inspiration for our worship themes for April 29, May 6 & May 13. I am re-reading Walden, and some other of his works, and I invite you to join me in that reading if you wish. We will look at simple living, civil disobedience, and our connection to mother earth on those three Sundays.

I also want to congratulate the Green Earth Committee for our winning Eco-Maine's 2012 Eco-Excellence GRAND AWARD for outstanding contributions to Environmental Preservation. Our congregation is doing wonderful things to raise awareness of environmental issues. May we find our way to go further and further down that path!