Earth Healing: Daily Reflections by Al Fritsch, S.J.

August 3, 2005 Vacationer's Credo

Be resolved to rest. I believe that I will take a rest during
this vacation. The resolution is not to do too much, for
hyperactivity is hardly a time of rest. If I go, it will be at a
slower pace; if I prepare to visit certain people or places, I
will minimize the effort it takes to get there and reduce the
schedule when there. Rest and less stress go hand in hand.

Be willing to change. Part of the stress of vacation is that
it includes all the regular habits of exercise, reading, and daily
practice along with some new items to help define this period as
true "vacation." The weeks may end up being over-scheduled and
over-planned. Maybe you don't need the daily shave or the viewing
of the Internet today. Feel good about not planning ahead.

Be away from them. I believe that it may be necessary to get
away, otherwise people will expect that you are up to business as
usual, and it will be hard to tell them that your are on vacation.
They may not be convinced that a stay-at-home is really changing
pace, and so you may have to isolate yourself in some fashion.

Be less subject to commercials. You don't have to go to a
particular restaurant just because others may ask whether you went
there. The future vacation description can be crafted in personal
terms and can become an opportunity to give vacation a non-
commercial meaning. When on vacation we should be free of such
allurements.

Be easy on self. I believe that changing pace does not mean
I attempt to engage in unhealthy practices. I can retain my diet
even though I take the opportunity to eat something different. And
qualitative change does not imply qualitative increases. But even
these changes of practice should not cause me too much anxiety.

Be free from messages. I believe I can live without instant
communication during vacation time. This is supposed to be a
period during which I do not have to read e-mail or make calls at
the regular pace. In fact, with some arrangement for where I can
be reached in an emergency, the constant stream of messages should
be suspended and held for future catching up. If emergencies do
arise, then cancel the vacation and be prepared to start over at a
later date.

Be reflective. Sometimes creative thoughts arise during
vacation. Maybe taking a pen and pad could come in handy for new
thoughts and ideas. Don't work them through to completion. But do
record them.

Be appreciative of others. I should thank companions, friends
and all who help make this a meaningful vacation. To do so I keep
a record as to who deserve notes of thanksgiving. Some go out of
their way to be helpful and yet we can overlook them when the
hustle and bustle of routine life picks up again.

August 4, 2005 Forgiving International Debts

Debts kill. Last month the leaders of the G-8 nations met at
Edinburgh and debt relief for the poorest nations of the globe was
on the agenda. Amid such distractions as the London bombings,
Prime Minister Tony Blair of The United Kingdom and others argued
forcefully for the impoverished nations. Protests by the tens of
thousands greeted the delegates and called them to serious action.

Justice, not charity. In a real sense, the indebted nations
trigger an awakening social consciousness. This awakening is
something that Christians have had a major role in playing for at
least a decade. In 2000, the Year of Jubilee, we recalled the
biblical passages to forgive debts during that period. And this
mandate continues and extends to the world of today. The debt on
poor nations is immoral and must be relieved, if we are to expect
that God will forgive the injustices to indebted nations that we
have perpetrated as colonialist powers or as individuals within our
societies. (See September 18, 2004).

Response to pressure. The protests along with essays, talks,
editorials, and a host of workshops on debt forgiveness in all
parts of the world are paying off. The rich nations are being
shamed into abandoning the high road of small gifts of aid and
charity and into looking far more deeply at the responsibilities
accompanying current globalization. If we are one Earth, then we
must be one people. And oneness means soundness in economics as
well as mind and body. What concerned people of good will are
saying is that this oneness is fractured through indebtedness,
which amounts to a form of enslavement. And the 21st century world
citizen cannot tolerate slavery.

Why stop at 20 nations? Removing the debts from a limited
number of worst case nations always leaves one wondering why the
unfortunate 21st nation is omitted. This raises a question as to
intolerable debts to many poorer nations. These debts are accrued
through inept, corrupt or misled leaders who, when incurring the
debt, failed to count the cost to educational and health programs
that repayment of these debts would bring.

Debt forgiveness is restitution. We must make some formal
restitution as wealthy nations, for benefits have come through the
profitable trade practices of centuries through furs, tobacco,
cotton, coffee, and a multitude of products favoring traders and
overlooking producers. The current proposed approach of national
or global forgiveness is a more orderly way to proceed in justice.
Every effort must be made to see that the forgiven lands use
properly the additional revenue not now needed for debt repayment.
This remains an unproven challenge, but it can be done justly.

Moral duty. Let our leaders know, lest the United States
becomes the nation that retards the movement toward freeing the
world of unjust debts. Let's take that responsibility seriously by
letting our concerns be known in conversation and writing.

August 5, 2005 High Summer Greenery

At the mid-mark of the summer season we look about and see
that the foliage in a normal rainfall year is the peak of green --
at least it is in Kentucky. The countryside is verdant: fields in
the full bounty of pasture and cropland, gardens, lawns, roadside
greenspace, and all the trees with the exception of the black
locust, which is turning brown already. Some varieties of trees
seem to sprout fresh summer additions, which add to the sea of
green. Even the farm ponds take on a mid-summer green algae growth
unless an effort is made to keep it off.

But there are hints that things are soon to change. In a few
weeks the blades of the full-grown corn stalk turn yellow along
with tassels and ears, the golden burley tobacco is taken to the
barn, and the soybean matures as well. Beans, cucumbers and tomato
vines add to the green color of the gardens. This green landscape
is now punctuated with touches of gold, and the purple of the tall
ironweed in the pasturelands, and the more subdued pink and purple
of the joe-pye weed.

When on the farm, this was the season to fill the silo.
Various types of foliage can be used but we always had a nutritious
combination of sorghum and corn; these were grown together and
harvested in early August. We would take corn knives and cut the
first two rows by hand so that the binder could come through and
bind the corn/sorghum into bundles. These were hauled to a
stationary chopper set up next to the silo. The bundles were fed
into the chopper, and the small green pieces were blown into the
silo by air generated in the chopping operation. Our task as kids
was to distributed the silage, which was air cooled by the blower
and the constant flow of chopped green silage pieces. We were to
hold the blower so that the material would be evenly distributed
throughout the silo area, and we were to tramp the loose silage
into place. This was a time when we would go up higher on the silo
ladder and jump down into the loose silage in order to help pack
it. As the silage piled up, its increased weight had its own
settling effect. At the end we would haul up buckets of dirt to
seal the silage in place. This would cause further settling.

August was a wistful time for we knew that vacation was coming
to an end, another school year would soon start, and the freedom of
summer would be a thing of the past. The greenery would not last
forever, and the summer crops would soon be ready for bringing to
the barns and storage areas. There seemed to be a rush of final
greenery in previously cut lawns and June-cut hayfields, in clipped
roadsides, and in wet bottomlands.

I know that people talk about how green Kentucky is. That is
especially noticeable when driving cross country from the west and
entering the Bluegrass State. While green predominates throughout
Kentucky's growing season, it is early August when green is really
the green of various shades and hues. Still all things pass away,
even mid-summer green.

August 6, 2005 Hiroshima

I'll never forget what went through my mind sixty years ago
today. That was when, upon listening to the radio, we heard that
earlier that day in Japan something terrible had happened. We only
got fragmentary details as the days went by, but that first
startled announcement was that the United States had dropped a
special type of bomb that destroyed an entire city in one
explosion. The bomb contained an unheard of power of devastation
and caused thousands upon thousands of deaths and injuries -- and
most of these victims had never put on a military uniform.

Why the non-combatants? Why such a total war? Was it the
anxiety that an invasion of Japan proper would cost perhaps a
million American casualties? We trusted our government and its
decisions, but couldn't that powerful bomb have been dropped off
the coast just to show what power could be brought to bear in these
final months of war? Why so many deaths of the innocent in a war
that had already cost so many untold millions?

Suddenly the imaginary glamour of war to youth or adults faded
into stark reality. War had turned more ghastly after the Hamburg
and Dresden bombings by saturation incendiary devices and their
fire storms and civilian deaths. Were we becoming a calloused
people? Hisoshima was an entire city destroyed by one bomb! The
world would never be the same, and America, the land of the free,
was where this terrifying entry into the Atomic Age was made.

Did others undergo this mental transformation that came so
soon with the subsequent destruction of Nagasaki and the suing for
peace on August 15th by the Japanese. People wanted peace at all
costs, but did that glorious and long-awaited end justify the means
taken? Yes, 9-11-01 was life changing in the ways of Pearl Harbor,
but Hiroshima/Nagasaki resembled the "March through Georgia".

And it occurred on the feast of the Transfiguration. Here is
a mid-summer feast that shows the brilliant, transforming light of
the Lord. Resurrection is fulfilled in a new order of justice and
peace, all manifested in the drama of Jesus between Moses and
Elijah. The witnesses were overcome by blinding light -- divine
light. On Mount Tabor we rest with the disciples in the security
of Christ conquering evil and preparing for a reign soon to come.

Hiroshima stands in contrast and is more than a city. It has
become an event of blinding light. Rather than become a
transformation of true peace and justice, the atomic attack struck
a staggering world with a shock of temporary peace from a terrible
war. But the respite was temporary, for the Cold War would follow
on the heels of victory over Japan. And with the Cold War came a
nuclear weapons race -- the United States, the Soviet Union, the
United Kingdom, France, China, and then India and Pakistan. Now
people speculate over Iran, Israel and North Korea. August 6 is
sobering, for the bright lights of transfiguration and of nuclear
explosions have ushered in a battle of good over evil.

August 7, 2005 The Storms of Insecurity

I remember a mid-summer storm. We had the blessed candle
flickering as our only light because the power had ceased; and it
was blackness outside except for the howling of the wind and the
flashes of lightning. Then the hail started falling and it hit the
galvanized roof of the house with a roar -- and inside all was
silent, for we knew the crops were being destroyed. It was a great
silence in the middle of the storm, for crop yields were fading.

Peter sees Jesus walking on the water and seeks security
himself, because a storm at sea can be frightening. Peter jumps
out of the boat and soon finds himself sinking after an attempt to
walk on the waters. Fear of the storm is now magnified. Where
will it all end? His life passed before him in a flash as can
occur in such circumstances.

How will each of our storms of life end? We need protection,
for our future is as uncertain as the battering hail episode or the
storm at sea for Peter. We are also people adrift and many things
can happen. One essay recently told about the United States
becoming a second rate power by 2016 from financial, military and
social turmoil of various sorts. Maybe that is so. What about the
litany of health problems that may await each of us? What about
our families and how they will fare in relationships with others,
some of which seem far more uncertain than others.

Many things can frighten us in the storms we have at this
time, and the fear differs with individuals and their imaginations.
As to the Church, we need only look back in history and find other
storms, which were massive and yet, with the grace of God, were
endured and the Christian community came out the better for it.
The existence of this fright is more apparent than the resolution
of the fears.

Jesus tells us in today's story of the storm at sea that we
are to focus upon him as savior and put our trust in him. If our
faith is deep enough, the storms that confront us can be endured,
and the new day will bring the bright sunlight of peace. When the
Lord is with us we will not sink, but be buoyed up by Christ's
presence. The question is asked of each of us, just how much faith
do we have? Oh, we of little faith! With more we can achieve
more. The saints of old had deep faith that God would take care of
them no matter what the adversity, and we are inspired by their
faith-filled lives. These models of faith took hold of the Lord's
hand and walked the distance of what seemed an eternity between
when they first saw, and when they were with him. We are to
achieve that distance but need to rest assured that with Jesus
nearby we cannot be alone.

Earth Healing is a process that has its moments of stormy
darkness when assistance and companionship seem far away. However,
our faith that the Earth can be healed presses us forward. We can
endure this as other storms; we can bring about a healing presence.

August 8, 2005 Senior Citizen "Greenhouse" Project

The word "greenhouse" is in quotation marks indicating that
it is a title given to a project in Tupelo, Mississippi, which
relates to a new concept in senior citizen housing. This project
allows ten elder citizens, rather than more, to live in intimate
settings and still receive full assistance. The idea involves a
less institutional environment, because the originators of the
project believe that larger numbers hurt the morale of the
residents, making them give up on life ("many die with broken
hearts"), and retarding their mental and emotional development no
matter how loving that institutional care is.

The ten-person facility has a sense of privacy (each person has
a private room), the exterior door is closed to all and only
entered by the use of a doorbell, and the attendants, who have
special non-medical titles, know the needs of each resident on a
very personal level. These workers are paid more than those in
ordinary senior citizen facilities and are able to give greater
attention to the people living there. Meals are served family
style at long tables, where each passes the food from one to the
next. The story as told on National Public Radio did not specify
what occurs when people are unable to feed themselves. The
suspicion is that those needing total nursing care would not
qualify for this type of project.

The basic concept of smaller units reminds me that when the
new novitiate was being planned at Clarkston, Michigan, in 1957
when I was a novice, the director asked for our ideas. I suggested
building a number of small residences near each other which could
be used or sold as housing. At that time about 200 modest houses
could have been built for the proposed multi-million dollar
structure. These could have had flexible use for residences,
library, classrooms, visitors and other purposes, and even could
have been sold as private housing if not needed. Currently, the
vast institution is used for the elderly; and the original plan
would have allowed for a similar "greenhouse" project today.
Larger units seem to save through economy of size, but they lack
flexibility -- which ultimately is worth so much.

The institutions of larger size cease to convey the personal
and human touch so needed for all types of people of all ages.
Granted some people must be hospitalized and treated on a constant
care basis. Still many seniors need total care (someone making
their beds and giving them meals) but are not bed-ridden. The
greenhouse project could apply to a broader range of senior
citizens who are bunched together with those needing full hospital-
type care. Thus they are put into wheelchairs and given very
strict medical programs that make them feel left to wither away.
The "greenhouse" gives them back dignity and allows them to make
their own choices in everything from when they get up to when and
what they eat. Maybe a more personal approach will permit more
people to spend their final days in home-like facilities, even if
more it is a little more expensive. Our elders deserve it.

August 9, 2005 Downwind of a Possible Disaster

I live downwind from the storage bunkers of the chemical
arsenal at the Bluegrass Army Depot in east central Kentucky. It
is thirteen miles as the crow flies, but crows are too smart to
pass over concrete bunkers storing nerve gas. Here at a military
complex near the epicenter of the infamous 1862 Civil War Battle of
Richmond, is stored one of the world's largest collections (523
tons) of aging chemical mustard and nerve gas shells and assorted
ordnance. And only one weapon, if allowed to rupture, could do
severe harm to nearby people and animals. With the exception of
the Pueblo, Colorado, facility, all other American chemical weapons
storage depots are destroying their supplies according to Treaty
obligations. No destructive operation is happening here, partly
because local citizen groups applied pressure to destroy the
weapons by a safer chemical neutralization process, rather than by
incineration as is being done at various other sites. The high
cost of two billion dollars for the Bluegrass site, as estimated by
the Pentagon in 2003, is regarded as "baseless" by Craig Williams
of the local Chemical Weapons Working Group.

Only a very small amount of escaped gas could cause havoc, and
local residents are fully aware of this. The tranquil scene of
beef cattle grazing in the field next to the storage areas gives no
indication of the dangers lurking so close to the casual passerby.
This seemingly placid scene of nerve gas bunkers and cattle is
plainly visible from Kentucky 52 Highway running parallel to the
north side of the grounds. On my moving to Ravenna, neighbors told
me that when they hear the sirens, they plan to grab the kids, jump
in a car and head for neighboring Powell County at right angles to
the prevailing wind. "Just get out while the gettin's good." When
I first heard the weekly 1:00 p.m. practice siren, the thought that
nerve gas had escaped did hit me. It was a new experience, even
though I had lived about 40 miles upwind of the Depot for 25 years.
Downwind is different. Local teachers say they have been
instructed, if their classes can't evacuate, to get all the
schoolchildren to stuff their coats and sweaters around the window
and door edges -- and then what? Think of a classroom of trapped
youth! The galley humor that goes around this county is that when
you smell bananas -- the scent of the tracer gas, breathe deeply
and it will be over.

The Bluegrass shells stay stored, even though the window of
time for conforming to treaty obligations that requires the
destruction of these weapons by 2012 narrows. Time is needed to
complete the destruction process successfully. Residents object to
removing aging weapons from the containment structures and
transporting them through large human populations (Madison County
where the depot is located is one of the fastest growing Kentucky
counties) to other distant disposal sites. Are there storage
dangers? Yes, frequent leaks are being detected quite rapidly, and
each leaking container is transferred to a larger sealable
container. But how long can this go on? We need to obey treaty
obligations and make life less stressful on the downwinders.

August 10, 2005 Animals as Companions

We spoke earlier about learning from animals (January 30,
2004) and also about the problems related to having pets (June 5,
2004). Now we focus on seeing animals as special companions in our
lives. Recently, a small girl in Ethiopia was being forcefully
taken by a group of men to enter into a forced marriage. Three
lions chased off the seven men and sat beside her for half of a day
until her village help arrived -- and then the lions departed. The
people called it a miracle, but it also showed that animals have a
sense of human beings in trouble and they do what they can to help.

Animals are some of our closest companions. Someone
commented that God created dogs because we humans need companions
who ask no questions. A loving dog knows when we hurt and need to
smile. The seeing eye dog and the security guards of our homes and
businesses are our companions. So are the birds outside of our
window and the squirrels in our trees. Companions are those who
make life better for us, who improve the quality of life, and who
are satisfied with being present. But companions extend beyond the
human family; they can be the domesticated animals or wildlife
around us as well.

Elderly people and lonely youth need animals also for they
lack the companionship that they crave. Some folks simply must
have more companionship because of their situations in life. The
over five hundred senior citizen facilities with aviaries and fish
tanks can attest to trying to fulfill those needs. The purchase
and maintenance of millions of pets of every description is
further testimony to the void being filled by animals. People who
go into the woods to observe wildlife are trying to answer their
own companionship needs even when they refuse to publicly admit
that they are lonely. We are often fascinated by animal pictures
and movies, and by the presence of caged animals at zoological
gardens -- though that condition does not appeal to me.
I was fascinated this spring watching a robin teach her young how
to fly and reflecting on what it means to leave the nest.

The almost universal attraction of animals to us leads to the
proposition that all of us need animals in some part of our lives.
People who are cut off from them lose part of their own identity.
On the other hand, hardened criminals taught to train dogs take on
a new lease on life -- and are humanized in the process of being
trainers. We should glory in the many such experience of delight,
whether it is the person feeding the squirrels or birds or the one
walking with his dog, or the retired school teacher with her cat.
Our life is better with animals present. Those species that are
threatened or endangered are required for our total creature
community, even when we do not closely associate with them on a
day-by-day basis. Their presence is a remote form of companionship
and thus is needed to add spice to our own lives. The animal life
that is more proximate requires protection, for these animals
directly answer our quest for companionship. If we see their
importance, we will preserve and protect all wildlife.

August 11, 2005 American Ethnic Picture

My hobby of studying American ethnicity is beginning to come
to fruition after a quarter of a century of data gathering and map-
making. The Ethnic Atlas of the United States is on this website
<earthhealing.info/EA/intro.html> in draft form. It is being
examined by reviewers and is open to comments from people living in
smaller counties or from small ethnic clusters that have been
ignored. The data now totals 25,000 entries for all fifty states,
mainly from the 2000 U.S. Census. The cut-off per county is
generally 1,000 people, and smaller concentrations are thus omitted
for falling below the "ethnic radar screen." Having computerized
the maps, we can now easily enter and make changes as they are
reported to us. We also are hoping to enter the statistics for the
1980 and 1990 censuses that we have gathered. They will be
forthcoming when my own and the map designer's time allows.

This attention to American ethnicity may seem to some to be
far removed from any earth healing or environmental focus. An
answer rests with the sense of respect. Traditionally, we
Americans have respected our parents and elders, those giving us
birth and child-rearing, values and faith, cultivated fields and
old homesteads, heirloom fruit trees and other produce, and well-
tended lakes and landscape. Through patience and hard work they
taught us respect. However, in recent years people seem more
forgetful of the past and seem to glorify the present; respect for
others erodes through historical illiteracy, pervasive informality,
lack of civility, and in a competitiveness that belittles what is
not our own.

Good old-fashioned respect must extend to our ethnicity. By
examining the traces of our collective and individual pasts we show
how much they are valued. In an age when languages are dying out
throughout the world at a rate of one every two weeks (United
Nations' estimate), we find that ethnicity itself is threatened and
endangered. The smaller groups struggle to survive and retain
their identity in a sea of change and conformity. What we are and
how we act come from our past history and that can have its traces
in land of origin, culture, and beliefs. To forget these origins
and regard them of little value would be a loss to America, a land
of welcoming arms for so many of the world's peoples.

One answer to the threats to ethnicity is to reaffirm that
being mindful of our past gives us a sense of respect for former
sacrifices and allows us to know who we are. In fact, a small but
growing group of people who have lost their own ethnic identity are
making an effort to reestablish their roots through genealogical
research, tours to the land of origin, and questioning of older
relatives. They realize that something is lost when people do not
know their origins. For an environmentalist, ethnicity is closely
related to the respect we hold for our Earth and all its
inhabitants. If we respect our forbearers, we appreciate their
efforts and what they bestowed on us. And an authentic earth
healing demands an atmosphere of respect.

August 12, 2005 American Ethnic Trends

Ethnic groups flourish with a common identity upon arriving in
America and they thrive for the first and second generations or as
long as there is considerable immigration and marriage within the
group. With time, cultural integration occurs and people lose
contact with the Old Country, the elders die off, and youth find
more exciting things to do than to dress up in native costumes,
learn dances, speak a separate language, and attend their own
ethnic events. With time, many of the European ethnic social
societies have lost members and struggle for life. That trend
today parallels the decline in other social, civic and fraternal
groups around our country. Ethnic parishes that were so prevalent
before the First World War tend to be merged or closed as another
generation moves to the suburbs and mixes with other ethnic groups.

Today, two trends seem to be occurring in contrast to each
other. One is the growing number of people from Latin America,
Asia and the Middle East who desire to retain their ethnic identity
amid the pressures for assimilation. In fact, Spanish is rapidly
becoming the second language of our country thus slowing the normal
pattern of assimilation through a rapidly growing transplanted
Hispanic culture. Somewhat in keeping with this minority
development is the popularity of many festivals and celebrations,
often of a multicultural nature.

On the other hand, in keeping with the drop off in the
European ethnic societies, large numbers of people are declaring
themselves in the census to be "American" or "United States" as
opposed to being English or Scotch-Irish or another ethnic
background. While the non-designated numbers are increasing, they
are not outdistancing population growth because minorities
(Hispanic, Afro-American, Native American, Asian American and
Pacific Islanders) and other recent immigrants with a stronger
sense of ethnicity are increasing faster than the portion of the
population that is losing identity. Millions more declare
themselves "American," but still more millions of people affirm
that they belong to specific categories.

The non-designated "Americans" are more numerous in the
Appalachian/ Ozark regions and in the Southeast. Why the great
decline among those saying they are from an English background (in
1980 tied with Germans as the primary ethnic group and now third
and soon falling to fourth position)? Youth are more hesitant to
identify with any one when from mixed backgrounds. The pride in
being Italian-American is losing favor in the country where people
identify by first names and allow the ethnic last name to be
deemphasized. Certain states such as Kentucky and West Virginia
have more of these "Americans" who are most likely of English and
Scotch-Irish background. Does this youthful hesitancy and this
confusion of ethnic background fuse into a new trend? The pattern
occurring since the latter part of the 20th century is worth
studying -- and we may see pronounced trends when we compile the
1980 and 1990 ethnic data using our computer-generated maps.

August 13, 2005 Volunteering: Giving and Receiving

Given as a homily at the Christian Appalachian Project Reunion
on June 25, 2005.

Sharing is a two way-street: the services given by a generous
volunteer and the reception given by hospitable people who can use
assistance. The prophet Elisha receives hospitality in a very
simple and sensitive manner from a couple who are really of modest
means. He is invited to come and stay at their house -- just as
many volunteers come into a welcoming community and are thus
encouraged to give of themselves. The "prophet's reward," spoken
of in Matthew's Gospel, is what this hospitable couple receives --
the promise of a child to come within a year. Generosity given and
promised reward received.

Jesus teaches his disciples how to be persons on a mission --
how to best spread the Good News to others in the world. He
requires a dedication that goes beyond family devotion. He also
says he expects the hearers of the Word to return generosity as
well. The generosity given by the disciple is the same generosity
that is returned in hospitality. Both are needed so that the Word
might grow and increase in the world. The paradigm shift after
Vatican II is that the giving of the Word is not the totality, but
the giver must grow from the faith already present in the hearers,
so that Good News can be a sharing. The missionary tells of the
gift of Scripture and Sacraments; the other expresses a
receptivity coming from human and cultural values already present.
Thus two gifts are communicated through the agency of the Church --
the Word of God and presence of God in the world and culture. Thus
the missionary is a bridge between the new members and the already
existing community.

As volunteers you have shown that you have dared to give to
others; upon reflection you find that you have received as much as
you have given if not more. All areas of poverty have great needs
and yet in fulfilling these needs we find a great wealth amid the
poverty. I find this; you find this. As volunteers you became
the messengers who bring the Good News and suddenly find out that
you receive the Good News. For too long, Appalachians have
suffered from a stereotype of being poor mountain people. You have
been able to dispel those misinformed impressions. What you found
in coming here is that the supposed dull and poor people were quite
bright and possessed a spiritual wealth to share with others who
need to grow in faith. These people have a smartness to survive in
poverty and skills to get by on far less than others could realize.

Again, Appalachia remains open to all volunteers. What you
came to give is what you found as a gift -- people willing to share
of their own spiritual depth. As residents and volunteer
receivers, we again welcome you and remind you that you are always
welcome back. As people growing in experience, the volunteer
becomes a sensitive person willing to go out from whatever
circumstances and share with others in need.

August 14, 2005 Universalism and Exclusivity

The Gospel reading (Matthew 15: 21-28) speaks of someone who
is a foreigner to Israel creating a scene when she comes pestering
Jesus to cure her daughter -- and the disciples want to dismiss
her. Doesn't she know that Jesus has a mission to his own people?
If she waits her turn, the disciples will carry their commission to
her people in a few years. However, some do not see life that way.
This Syro-Phoneacian woman goes to great lengths to beg for her
child. She knows she is an outsider and is willing to imitate the
dogs who receive scraps from the master's table. This touches
Jesus very much and he cures her daughter and commends her faith --
as he would also do for the centurion. Jesus testifies that
foreigners as well as Jewish people can have great faith, and this
message will go out to all the world.

The concept of universalism was not popular either in Jesus'
day or our own. To say that others will share some of the
privileges that we possess is somewhat distasteful at first.
"I am better than you" is far more popular and conveys itself in so
many of our attitudes at the global, national, regional and local
levels, among families and clans, in schools and in church
situations. We tend to be exclusive for our own well-being,
identity, patriotic spirit and societal acceptance by peers. Being
exclusive gives a sense of rapid removal of problems dealing with
mingling with unwanted people. But no matter how rationalized
exclusivism is, there lurks in the back of our mind that heaven is
not exclusive. It includes all -- the poor, the ugly, the defaced,
the sinners now forgiven, and the other races, creeds and colors.
The many different saints call out for universalism or catholicity
with a small "c." And so it is, for God's mercy is far richer and
all embracing than our own.

This raises a further question, are we ever permitted to be
exclusive? St. Paul, that great champion of universalism, gives us
hints to this answer as well. At times, our concept of
universalism could be threatened by some who desire this or that
form of exclusive behavior, conduct that could sap the vitality of
our community. And this cannot be tolerated. We do not wish to
permanently eject the malcontents, but only to make them stand them
in the corner for a while, before letting them back into the party.
Really that was the primary concept of "excommunication" before it
became politicized by groups bent on purification at any price. We
certainly will exclude from our assemblies terrorists wearing
suicide belts. Proper conduct is always expected and needed.

Rather than focus on the particular need for occasional
exclusion, let's emphasize the opposite -- the steps it takes to
include more and more people. We cannot remain a world of haves
and have-nots when the latter do not have the basics of life. We
must enter a program that forgives the debts of the poverty-
stricken parts of the globe. This growing sense of universalism
through mutual sharing of resources requires us to accept a
responsibility to invite, instruct and include all people.

August 15, 2005 Mary: Female Model

Are we men the weaker sex? We need to be in front of things;
we must be affirmed always; we need to be mothered and looked after
all too long in life. And so we have Mary, mother of the Lord and
our mother as well.

Real Mary. Mary has many feast days and we have about 2,000
opportunities to honor her in an average lifetime (at least one a
month). These feast days invite us to know her. Imagine a young
maiden who hears the magnificent words of her own and her cousin's
motherhood. She goes immediately on a fifty mile trip to stay with
cousin Elizabeth, for they need each other at this moment. She
does not kneel in rapture as some of the medieval paintings
portray, but rather takes a donkey on a dusty road, alone with the
God-within, not in the soft light from stained glass windows. She
is first among those who give loving care to the needy and who
share gifts with them -- a gift of motherhood.

Blessed are you among women. Truly Mary is blessed and her
humility rests in knowing that she has such great privileges. We
too are blessed people, and must recognize not our nothingness but
our somethingness, and that we are the most blessed of created
beings. We are humbled also for our life is a gift from the
Creator. In our gratitude we start to see our place in the grand
plan of salvation. We find Mary, our mother and want her at our
side especially at the hour of our death. Mary, mother of the
church, is caring, nurturing, guiding, and healing. We need
someone with these feminine characteristics in our lives.

Gifts given -- Mary's gifts to us involve a transparency.
Gifts given to her make her the most blessed of women and she know
it. Her humility is in plainly and honestly knowing that she has
great privileges -- and they are from God and not from her own
efforts. She is totally pure and thus we can see into her soul.
She moves us to Christ as any mother to a beloved son or daughter.
Her great gift today is to be a prism through which shines the
Light of the World. To imagine Mary standing above us on some
pedestal would be to fail to see the fullness of her gifts.
Rather, Mary goes ahead of us in the Assumption, for we too expect
to pass into heaven after death even though our reunion with our
bodies will occur after the Last Judgment.

The Woman's Touch: Eco-feminism. Mary's motherhood is God's
way of teaching us the values of womanhood as well as motherhood.
Mary stands for the unique contributions of all women to an
understanding of how the Earth must be nurtured, and how human
beings must heal and be truly compassionate. Empirically, I note
that women intuitively grasp the need for healing our wounded
Earth, and they respond with a sense of compassion and personal
concern. Is there something inherently womanly, without which the
final task of saving our Earth cannot be achieved? It is a mistake
for a man to try to define this role. We must await the woman's
solution -- and we ask for Mary's intercession.

August 16, 2005 Consider a Root Cellar/Tornado Shelter

Root cellars are found throughout rural Appalachia and other
parts of the country. They become ideal places to store ample food
and to serve other purposes as well. We can store for winter in a
non-processed manner our homegrown potatoes, beets, apples,
cabbage, cauliflower, endive, celery, turnips, squash, endive, and
peppers. Some store certain vegetables in boxes of moist sand to
preserve them from drying out. My mother would also store much of
the canned preserves in this area on shelves built above a 3-by-12-
foot by 2-foot-deep potato bin. Once built, the root cellar
becomes an ideal storage space if well planned. There is no energy
cost as with deep freezers -- unless one installs an electric light
for occasional use.

An ideal root cellar should be accessible to the kitchen,
since the cook is the main user. Every foot away from the kitchen
counts, so plan it with convenience in mind. The space will
naturally be dark and cool, since the earth serves as an insulating
and temperature modifying agent. As very young children, we would
retreat to the coolness of the root cellar during hot summer days
to play card games. A moderate humidity is expected in an
underground structure and is needed to keep produce from drying too
much. However, moisture must not be allowed to accumulate, and so
the cellar must be equipped with a drain. Within this space or
elsewhere at dryer locations (attics or upper floors) one stores
onions, beans and peas. Higher shelves should be used for
pumpkins, squash and canned food. Herbs may be hung in the cellars
but their flavor is better preserved in dryer places.

The type of root cellar may vary from larger exotic types of
free-standing underground buildings to metal drums stored in a
hillside for small quantities of produce. Make the cellar large
enough for your domestic needs. Easy access through adequate
stairways and door is important. Some prefer concrete floors but
gravel or even dirt floors are generally used. Ideally the space
should have good ventilation and be made rodent-proof, for mice
love root cellars. If free standing, a roof that is heated by the
sun may yield too high a temperature for an ideal root cellar. One
may add a sod roof that would reduce the temperature to a suitable
range, but the weight requires a well reinforced roof structure.
A basement addition or compartment under the house may prove the
most easily built and maintained root cellar.

Mother Earth News, Better Homes and Gardens and other
publications give examples of root cellars and helpful tips on
design, construction and maintenance. What all agree is that this
may prove to be the easiest way to preserve the surplus vegetables
that are now coming in from the garden in August. The place is
easy to keep clean, the produce is wholesome after storage there,
and the place may also serve as a tornado shelter for those in the
mid-section of our country or where violent storms may arise. It
is always good to have the extra space when we need some extra
protection.

August 17, 2005 Consider Planting Black Walnuts

The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a prized tree, which is
generally looks elegant and offers a plentiful supply of nuts about
every other year. Furthermore, early American cabinet makers
learned the beauty of the walnut grain and dark color, and so to
this day walnut logs bring high prices. The walnut timber resists
both decay and splitting. Throughout the 19th and into the 20th
centuries walnut was used for gunstocks and for so many other uses
that it became scarce and is highly prized. Walnut logs are often
stolen when the property owner is not looking, even at times
airlifted out by means of a helicopter.

For years the U.S. Forest Service and state agencies have
sponsored black walnut plantings both individually and in
plantations. Some states offer seedlings at nominal fees. Walnut
trees are quite hardy and thrive in the eastern U.S. temperate
climate. The new trees will bear nuts as early as six years after
planting. Usually pistillate (female) flowers produce nuts after
being pollinated by staminate (male) flowers of the same tree. In
a very early or very late spring, the pistillate flowers may not be
ready when the pollen is shed. Different varieties of walnuts have
overlapping pollen-receptivity periods and can pollinate each
other. Thus groves have advantages.

Walnut trees develop deep taproots and should be planted in
very deep well-drained soil generally in the fall or early spring.
The trees need plenty of room to grow and should be planted 10 feet
apart for timber and 60 feet apart for nuts. The soil for walnut
trees should be slightly acid with a pH of about 6.0. Foresters
advise that soils be tested before planting. Nitrogen and
potassium are especially needed by walnut trees for nut production.
The new trees also benefit from the addition of manures and organic
matter to the soil. Weeds should be kept away from the base of the
trees to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients.

Ideal locations include yards, driveways, fence rows, stream
banks and sufficiently drained bottomland. Avoid planting them
near garden areas (especially near tomatoes and potatoes) or berry
patches (except raspberries); avoid apple-growing areas and land
where pines are present, because the walnut tree roots exude
juglone, a substance toxic to some plants. Walnut groves often
give a dappled sunlight effect of moderate shade.

This is an ideal time, for the walnuts will soon be ready. If
you want to start trees from seed, gather the nuts as soon as they
fall from the tree. Select nuts from healthy, tall and straight,
productive trees. The nuts should be planted in the fall (with the
husks on) or stored in sawdust or sand over the winter for spring
planting, in which case the husk is removed. Plant three nuts per
expected tree, about two inches deep in rich soil. Remember again
that good straight walnut logs can bring at today's prices over one
thousand dollars. Some people consider the walnut planting as an
investment for their grandchildren.

August 18, 2005 Appropriate Technology Demonstration

Within the past two years I have written short essays on a
variety of earthhealing subjects, but never on a very obvious
subject, namely, the reasons for appropriate technology (AT)
demonstration. In the quarter of a century and a third of a
lifetime between 1977 and 2002, a fair proportion of my time has
been taken up acquiring a site, building demo projects, raising
money to sustain them, and publicizing what was on that rural
(nature center) site at Livingston, KY and a second urban site at
Mount Vernon, KY. AT means something to me.

AT is defined as environmentally benign, affordable, community
enhancing, and people friendly technologies such as solar energy
applications, organic gardening, and low-cost housing made from
local materials. The reasons for AT demonstration include:

* AT is an opportunity for visitors to see a project first
hand. Other demo projects from museum exhibits to school
scientific experiments teach us how valuable seeing something
first-hand. That experience extends to AT applications as well;

* AT is a chance to show that a project is workable. This is
not something that is a pie-in-the sky theory that just might have
application. It is a concrete project producing results here and
now and could be extended given the proper conditions;

* AT is a promise for the future. The present nature of the
project shows that while certain parts needs refinement, still the
future is already before us in simple ways. So often, on seeing a
demonstration, the viewer learns something new and realizes that he
or she could do the same thing and thus make the future present.
A demo project serves as a concrete refutation of charges that the
system won't work, is nebulous, or is too expensive;

* AT is an appeal to all ages and backgrounds. AT
demonstrations are exercises in democratic commitment. To say that
they are manageable by everyone means that people can grasp their
operation and make them part of their own life; and

* AT is a challenge to research and develop the system. No AT
project for there are gray areas. By demonstrating AT proponents
are forced to smooth rough edges and raise real questions for
further research.

Other good reasons exist. However, some may ask why did I
leave the field. I haven't. I just need some distance to reflect
on what was done and to write about it. I have freely given up the
immediate work and not wait to be forced to do so through illness
or handicaps. Keeping up an AT demonstration site takes immense
dedication, strong focus, long hours, real creativity as to fund
raising, and the ongoing task of maintenance. And to successfully
turn this type of activity over to others is a sign that AT
demonstration has a future.

August 19, 2005 World Youth Day

During this time (August 18-21), hundreds of thousands of
Catholic youth are gathering at Cologne, Germany for World Youth
Day. In the past, the presence of John Paul II made this a popular
attraction, for he had a certain charism that drew the youth to
him. Most young people like to get together, and so this can
become an ideal occasion to expand their global vision, engage in
spiritual reflection, and receive the enjoyment of being together.
The successes of past events occurred in Denver, Paris, Rome and
other places every three years. For these youth the trek becomes
a combination of pilgrimage, learning experience, and global
gathering of like-minded folks.

The experience can be globalizing in its total effect. Youth
people suddenly see that their own concerns go beyond national
boundaries and embrace people of all colors, tongues and national
origins. If we are to be saved, we must work together. If we are
to save our Earth as Earthhealers, we must also cooperate on a
global level, for the task is too big for one single group or
nation. Experiencing people from other lands is something that
broadens one's horizons in a way critically necessary in addressing
the problems ahead, and youth will soon be adults who must face
those challenges in cooperative ways.

The experience can be spiritual for many seek the earnest
reenforcement of peers on their individual spiritual journeys. The
event is a type of pilgrimage, and so this becomes a time for
spiritual insight, especially geared for assisting with one's
journey of faith. The four-day event includes opportunities to
talk with others and to engage in periods of prayer and liturgical
celebration. I have heard those who went on previous events
describe the happening as the time when they received their special
vocation in life.

The experience can prove enjoyable for youth like to travel
and see new places. That joy in expanding one's mind and heart is
part of the total experience of life in all its forms. It is an
occasion that will stick with them for the rest of their lives, and
good experiences add to a sense of joy when remembered over and
over. During this period, some will discover the profound joy in
being asked by the Lord to serve in some capacity where their
talents may be more fully used. We hope all youth will share that
experience. May this gathering become an opportunity to commit
themselves to a life of contact with the Lord and the resulting
total joy of service.

These three "cans" (global consciousness, spiritual deepening,
and profound enjoyment) may or may not be achieved by each and
every young pilgrim during these days. But the possibility is
there. Our fervent hopes are that youthful pilgrims find the words
of the new Pope as inspiring as their predecessors found those of
John Paul II. Let's all pray these youth experience a sense of
hope as they gather together at Mass this Sunday near Cologne.

August 20, 2005 Delving into the Minds of Terrorists

Sometimes I look forward to writing a daily reflection. At
other times I feel that this is needed but I don't like the task.
Besides, this was first drafted the day after the London bombings
and we don't even know for sure who are the culprits. It is both
a dreaded and a needed topic. The terrorist deeds are on the minds
of people throughout the world and yet we are also to love everyone
and have compassion for them. Loves and compassion are tested at
this time, especially when innocents are the victims of deeds meant
to kill indiscriminately those who congregate in crowded bus stops
and public conveyances.

Certain such terrorists have rights to trial and humane
treatment when caught (see July 26, 2005 on human rights of all
including terrorists). But what about a sense of compassion? An
insane person who does terrible deeds can be more easily forgiven
and even receive our sympathy and forgiveness. That is often the
case and we extend a hand for treatment and rehabilitation. But
there are more frequent cases today of the perfectly sane who
commit these deeds.

We attempt to put ourselves into the shoes of a suicide bomber
who is not insane and is a member of an insurgency movement bent on
overthrowing a government regarded as unjust or of punishing a
government for actions being currently undertaken. Their cause is
in part similar to the underground fighter during the Second World
War. From the terrorist standpoint, a culture and way of life is
threatened, a slum has no outlet, powerlessness is felt everyday.
Terrorists may think of themselves as potential freedom fighters,
martyrs, and heroes and heroines to neighbors and relatives. Are
they in some sort of despair? Instead of shame, their peers and
families will have a strong regard for their efforts. They are
motivated to become a self-destructing weapon. Looked at this way,
we may not agree with their reasoning, their motives, their limited
outlook or even the warped philosophy that moves them. But they
have dedication and determination, though we often would regard
their deeds as cowardly. They are a present reality.

Taking a step further. If we cannot condone the terrorist
act, can we consider the conditions which give rise to such
desperate acts? And can we do commit ourselves to change those
conditions for the love of the terrorist? If the answer to both is
in the affirmative, we are on the road to compassion. The
terrorist may not be in a world of black and white, but a gray
world in which some of the injustice they want to fight actually
exists. And terrorists may regard the injustice done as acts of
"terror" against their people -- police action, poverty, jail
terms, repression, failure to listen, unlawful searches, lip
service and no concrete action, and many other things. The
terrorists regard this as a matter of last resort, and so the
bombing and the publicity that follows. No, this subject is not
pleasant with its blood and gore; but it includes conditions which
our society condones -- and these must enter the picture as well.

August 21, 2005 Keys of the Kingdom

You are Peter and to you I will give the keys of the kingdom
of heaven.

The words of Jesus are still as astounding today as when
spoken two thousand years ago. Do real powers come down from
heaven and reside with mere imperfect human beings? And are human
being worthy of that power? As a Catholic Christian I respond that
the first is "yes" and the second is "no."

The power to do something of a divine character is hard for us
to fathom at first. But Christ came among us and invited us
through baptism into the divine family. We join with the
resurrected Lord who commissions us to do things far beyond our own
imagining. And the powers he mentioned are truly immense --
driving out devils, speaking in tongues, giving up one's lives for
the Gospel, curing the ill and on and on. We enter in various ways
in this movement to save others and even the earth itself. These
power are not symbolic or allegorical but are actual. In God's
name we can act -- but we must be people of faith for empowerment
and spiritual trust and faith go together.

Yes, the power we believe has been transferred through the
Apostles involve the forgiveness of sin and the binding of those to
fulfill their obligations. The keys rest in God's mercy, that we
want to hear from another that we are forgiven in a personal
touching manner. We want to be told that what we are craving in
our hearts is right, that we are on the right road, and that we
encouraged to continue. The key is in the hand of the Almighty and
it passes on to human being through the power of the risen Lord.
We believe we hold the key, if ordained; we believe it is held and
ready for use, even if not one of the ordained. Both are needed
for the key to operate and have its effect within the believing
community.

No, the person who receives this power is never worthy. We
can approach worthiness over time and with an effort, but the power
given is done so even in our partial state of unworthiness. We do
not first become worthy and then get power. To the partly worthy,
God in generosity gives power. Every effort should be made to
educate the person, ensure maturity and approachability with
others, and bestow power on a praying person, and on and on. And
efforts are made to do so, but no one is perfect and no one is
ready made with one exception -- and she (Mary) did not receive
this power. A look at church history may trigger critics to name
bad popes -- and we acknowledge that a human church has had such.
But we can't forget that no other small group of 263 has had so
many recognized saints (over 100) and great people either. Not
perfect, not worthy, but invested with God's generous power.

If this opening and closing is done on the ecclesial level,
surely the power of healing the Earth is of divine origin and
worthy of our preparation and undertaking by concerned people.

August 22, 2005 Avoiding Exotic Pets

Some pets are nice and give great joy. When controlled they
are friends to the owners and admired by the neighbors. But these
can get out of hand and either escape, or be allowed to get away
from controlled conditions. Urban congested areas as well as the
sheer number of pets make issues arise not considered a few decades
ago in rural America. Over 40% of all imperiled U.S. native plants
and animals are at risk because of invasive species

Environmental issues. The March, 2005 National Geographic has
an article "Attack of the Alien Invaders" that treats a series of
plants and animals some of which result in intentional release or
escape resulting in the uncontrolled proliferation of these ex-
pets. This occurs as in the case of the Burmese python in southern
Florida in areas where no natural predator will restrict their
rapid increase. And animals like plants can be invasive species
(red fox, comb jellyfish, fire ant, starling, nutria, etc. ). From
turtles to cats, the land is awash with exotic pets. Right now the
radio tells of pet lizards let loose in our state and being sought
for extermination. Unfortunately more kudzu-type animal species
spread around us than we care to imagine (see February 17, 2005).
In most cases, the animal will not find a mate and simply linger
for a period of time and pass through life. But does the pet lover
know what some escapes can entail? The red-eared slider (turtle)
eats native frogs, mollusks, and birds and competes with native
turtles. And it is on the loose in many countries.

Safety issues. Exotic species can be frightening. Several
types of dogs, e.g., the pit bull, may be dangerous to neighbors
and innocent passersby. More stories are known about how children
and adults are mauled by one of these animals, which seem so cute
and cuddly to the pet owner. A few pet owners have had to serve
jail time for manslaughter. We read of cases of wild mammals such
as a tiger which turned unexpectedly on its trainer before
thousands of people and leave him gravely wounded. The need for a
watch animal is perhaps valid, but the choice is critical. I had
an uncle who was almost financially ruined by the attack of his dog
on a visitor even though warnings were posted on the premises where
the person ventured. In Kentucky, that is unusual, for many dogs
go loose and dog bites are the most frequent.

Responsible choice. The National Geographic article has one
telling picture of a young boy pleading with his dad to let him buy
something in a pet store. Who is really at fault? The youth likes
what he sees; the pet store offers a species that the environment
or safety indicates should be left in the wild; the father caves
in. The blame goes further, that is, to a society which permits
the dangerous exotic to be placed in homes for keeping and stores
for sale. Stories of escape and lack of control abound in our
permissive society. Some communities now ban on certain animals or
to require special licenses and insurance policies to handle
possible disasters. A simple rule is be responsible and only
select non-exotic pets that you can control easily.

August 23, 2005 Knowing Compact Fluorescent Facts

* Lighting, both indoor and outdoor, is a major energy user in
our modern world.

* Reducing the amount of energy required to give the same
amount of lighting proves to be one of the most convenient and
ready made ways to conserve energy. This can be done by the use of
compact fluorescent lighting (CFL).

* CFLs are improved. They are now manufactured smaller,
lighter and with better color tone than in the past. Many screw
right into the incandescent bulb socket.

* CFLs are a quick, efficient, easily implemented way to
initiate energy conservation in home, school, and office.

* CFLs, qualified by the ENERGY STAR program of the United
States Environmental Protection Program, use up to 75% less energy
than standard incandescent bulbs, which loses much of their energy
in the form of heat. Feel the difference but be careful not to
burn yourself.

* CFLs last longer than incandescent bulbs, sometimes up to
ten times as long. Thus ultimate savings for this more expensive
bulb comes in both energy saved and longer life.

* CFLs could save money. If every family replaced its five
most used light fixtures with Energy Star qualified lighting, a
saving of $60 per year would accrue to the average household.

* CFLs will help combat global warming as well. If every
family in America would do the above saving procedure, the amount
of reduction in greenhouse gases would be one trillion pounds per
year (U.S. Government calculations).

* CFLs can reduce energy needs so much that the simple step of
removing the five most frequent bulbs as mentioned would cut the
projected need for new powerplants in half for the foreseeable
future. A combination of this and simple solar energy techniques
could solve America's impending energy crisis.

* CFLs that have earned Energy Star ratings are readily
available either through non-profit groups such as ASPI (as a way
for defraying organizational expenses) or more recently through
local commercial lighting fixture outlets. Their price is
definitely coming down.

* CFLs require a slight adjustment in turning on and off
lights. If a fixture will be used again within a three-hour
period, it is best to leave it burning rather than turning on and
off, since it is the turning on that takes the most energy, not its
ongoing use.

August 24, 2005 An Earthhealing Theology

This marvelous Earth is a creation of the Almighty; it has
been damaged by human deeds; it is in need of healing, which
requires the concern of all human beings. Striving to develop a
basic Earthhealing theology is consistent with what this website is
all about. Several components for such a theology are necessary:

* All creation is good and marvelous to behold. This planet
was first seen from a distance through space exploration and
appeared as a beautiful blue-green globe that had never been
pictured before from a distance. The picture engendered respect.
It does not just call forth previous respect based on fear of
damnation or physical harm; it demands a respect of the Creator
who would do so much as initiate the Big Bang and the movement of
elements to the present structure in those first micro-seconds of
creation and in the 14 billion years since that occurred. It
includes the vastness of the universe, the shape of the cosmos, the
birth and death of galaxies, and the expanse of unknown wonders
such as dark energy and matter not yet understood. The Creator is
almighty, and creation is a word of theological affirmation.

* The Earth is harmed by human neglect and suffers. Misdeeds
are the arena of a theology of redemption. We recognize these
misdeeds done to others and to the Earth itself through lack of
respect on our part. It has taken some time but most world leaders
have now awaken to what we have done to trigger global warming --
and to begin to find the consequences of such actions as overuse of
fossil fuels. In turn, our disrespect for the Earth has led to
planetary suffering, i.e, threatened species, polluted water and
air, death of forests, etc. A religion without profound respect
for the Creator and creation is a shadow ready to vanish, and so it
is necessary that we speak as those practicing a belief in the
infinite Creator and the finite nature of creation. On the other
hand, a practice of faith leads to acknowledging suffering,
alleviating it, and seeing that all suffering and the acts of
alleviation together have ultimate value.

* Earthhealing is a spiritual undertaking. While the practice
of earthhealing is not theological, still the participation of all
people demands that a theological principle of inclusiveness. All
people inspired by the Spirit have positive gifts to give for such
a massive enterprise. Certainly ill-will and accompanying actions
may be detrimental and must be excluded in order to safeguard the
healing process. If we have harmed the Earth in the past, a firm
resolve to heal does not of itself protect against continuing or
future harm. While there are limits to inclusiveness, there are
non limits to the may arts and sciences which must contribute to
the final healing -- geology, agriculture, hydrology, ecology, all
forms of appropriate technology, design and communicative arts,
architecture, construction skills, loving relationships, teaching
method, and on and on. We must not deny the good works of the
Earth's inhabitants for the Spirit works among them -- and this is
a theological affirmation.

August 25, 2005 Must We Accept All Refugees?

The United States has been peopled by refugees from nations in
Europe and other lands, many coming willingly and many from Africa
in chains. In more recent times, the numbers have come escaping
totalitarian regimes in Asia and the Middle East along with
economic migrants from Latin America and elsewhere. For the
greater part, we are all one family of strangers and guests, even
native populations which have been here much longer.

Mixing the immigrants and refugees into a single grouping may
not be proper. Circumstances are different and require selective
treatment. This land always needs to have open arms for the
refugee within certain limits. Plainly, it is important that
smuggling or trafficking in unfortunate human beings must be
stopped and the culprits brought to justice. On that, we would all
agree. What about the poor, who see this as the only land of hope,
have set their sights on it, and will take any means to get here?
These are prey to the dishonest and are allured to this country
with no provision or sponsorship.

An open door policy could prove beyond the means of the
receiving country as we know from the experience of Lebanon and
Jordan with Palestinian refugees. Quotas are reasonable for both
migrants and refugees, especially since the latter may be better
provided at lower costs in lands nearer the turmoil causing the
refugees to flee. It takes far less to settle these unfortunate
people in or near their homeland than to transport them great
distances to this country and find shelter and employment for them
here. Thus a limited reception policy should always be coupled
with helping to provide resources to give decent facilities to the
25 million global refugees at any given time.

Should a policy of discouragement be put into effect as is
being contemplated by some of the wealthier European Union nations
experiencing this same overwhelming refugee problem? It is hard to
answer this categorically without knowing what the contents of the
national policy is. If the policy deals with shutting these
refugees out at the port of entry, then it may include injustice
and hardship on the part of a refugee in a leaking boat. If it
involves halting the movement at the point of departure along with
some forms of alternative living condition, even temporary, then it
is far more just and fair. For all practical purposes, the United
States must have a limited policy for taking refugees.

It is quite difficult to say "no" to large numbers of the
penniless, and still keep our name as the land of the free and the
brave. I do not propose an unrealistic open door policy, or a
completely closed door. However, this country has to be sensitive
to refugee conditions and give some of our immense wealth to these
unfortunate victims of wars and national disturbances. Opening a
door is only one way; providing resources to relief organizations
and protection at these camps is another. Resettlement in the
countries of origin must also be a high priority.

August 26, 2005 Tomatoes

Yes, in August we must have tomatoes in all their forms: fresh
right off the vine, iced and sliced, stewed, crushed, juiced,
fried, canned whole, in catsup, paste, soup and sauce, and mixed
with chilies, even in my mother's special tomato preserves and
green tomato mock mincemeat. But the warm tomato just off the
August vine is for me the height of summer's delights. The type is
of course important, but not near so as the naturally grown delight
that quenches the thirst and goes down with a great feeling. I
always pitied those who do not like or for some reason are unable
to eat this humble fruit.

Tomatoes are such a major part of many of our menus that we
seldom advert to the fact that the tomato comes quite late to
Western Civilization. Most could not believe the Italians with
such a rich cooking tradition in using tomatoes did not ever know
about them in the Middle ages. Even when the Europeans came to the
Americas they were reluctant to adapt the tomato to their vegetable
listing. Partly this is because the tomato, a member of the
nightshade family, is poisonous in all other parts of the plant but
the fruit. Perhaps this held people back.

Not only are tomatoes not poisonous, but the tomato is known
for its antioxidant properties and its ability to ward off cancer.
Maybe one could eat too many, but I haven't seen those studies yet.
I slow up only when my sweat becomes so acid that it irritates the
skin; then I slow down on a summer tomato diet. However, this
nightshade is the mainstay of my own gardening as it was at our
home place. At least a third of my garden is devoted to the tomato
in all its varieties: early birds for July, dark red larger beef
steaks, cherry tomatoes for all seasons, yellow less-acidic ones,
the Italian varieties that are good in dry times, and the pear
tomato for September and even beyond. I hang cherry tomatoes in
the greenhouse to ripe long after frost and some people wrap
tomatoes singly and store them for Thanksgiving and beyond.

For me the season for this fruit can extend for four months
(July through October), but I realize that further north it is far
less. In the spring, we put some plants out as early as possible
and then protect them from possible low temperatures so they don't
get that purple hue. Blooms will set with low temperatures on
either end of summer and so protection is important both in spring
and fall. This protection consists of ordinary cloth or paper or
even buckets placed over them at night.

How about staking? That depends. Where we have plenty of
rain some years and not enough at other times, we cannot predict
whether staking will prove best in the wet seasons when ground
tomatoes tend to rot. I follow my gardener uncle's advice and
stake half -- thus ensure at least maximum productivity in part of
the plot. Some pamper with a few plants and fertilize and water
with immense care -- and they prove highly productive. I prefer
less pampering and more plants. All in all, tomatoes be praised.

August 27, 2005 Diets to Avoid Cancer

After considering yesterday's essay on the glories of the
tomato, we wonder whether diets have much to do with avoiding
cancer, which seems to be striking so many friends and relatives.
As far back as 1982, the National Research Council released a
report that stated that proper diet may someday reduce the
incidence of cancer by one-third. The basic premise is still held
by experts and, though some forms of cancer have been reduced in
the intervening quarter of a century (thanks to reduced smoking),
still other types of cancer are holding steady or even increasing.
Not all the causes of this are diet-related, still all of us should
take seriously the health suggestions which are still valid.

Low-fat foods. The proportion of calories in the diet
produced by fats should be reduced from 40 to 30%. A large portion
the public who are suffering from obesity problems should consider
low-fat products which are readily available in the general market.
Fast foods users should be especially aware. Many people are
seeking to reduce saturated fat and cholesterol-rich materials due
to a growing consciousness of excess fats in American diets.

Diet choices. The daily diet should favor whole-grain
cereals, fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in Vitamin C
and Vitamin A. Emphasis is given to citrus fruits, dark-green and
deep yellow vegetables and those of the cabbage or brassica family
(kale, broccoli, collards, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, etc.). For decades, researchers have held that the
vitamins and other minerals such as trace amounts of selenium are
found in the cruciferous vegetables (brassicas mentioned together
with radish, horseradish, turnip, etc. that have cross-shaped
flowers, pointed pods, and strong cabbage-like odors). These trace
materials inhibit the formation of cancer-causing chemicals or
reduce cancer incidence in other ways. Many of these foods are
high fiber, something helpful in avoidance of colon cancer.

Low-salt foods. This is a tough change in diet since so many
processed food contain salt that is so much a part of what we eat.
This means that people should reduce the amounts of salt-cured,
salt-pickled and smoked foods. Again, markets now contain a line
of canned and frozen foods which have virtually no salt. We must
all learn to check labels. We are often surprised by the levels of
salt in soups, condiments, cheeses, and many snack foods.

Stop smoking. It does lead many to increased food consumption
and so can become a diet-related issue.

Low alcohol consumption. Excess alcohol should be avoided
(though a little red wine is healthy), especially in combination
with cigarette smoking -- the major cancer-causing practice in our
society. Nutritionists tell us that diet adjustments should be
made in conjunction with daily exercise and awareness of weight
factors.

August 28, 2005 Down to Earth Spirituality

Take up your cross and follow me.

Taking up a cross and becoming compassionate for human and
other suffering means different things to different people. An
affluent person may see problems related to security and excesses.
A destitute person may think quite often of security because he or
she has little for tomorrow's table. If we strive to remain
somewhere in the middle, then it is important that we do not
distance ourselves from the calling to suffer with the Lord.

Elements of a Spirituality: All of us have to end this mortal
existence in some fashion, and it is best to do so prayerfully as
preparation for eternal life. Money and material things may
postpone severe medical problems, but the end comes for all of us,
rich and poor -- and often in unexpected ways. Let's be realistic
about how we are to proceed in life. But proceed we must.

Stop Pretending. Much of our affluent American culture is
based on pretending. We drive a gas guzzling SUV to carry a sack
of recyclables several miles, and think we have done something
good. We stop and give another some of our used furnishings and
may even want a tax write-off, while we leave to the recipient the
task of disposing of this unwanted merchandise. We say we favor
some fashionable cause and underneath do not. We go to a wedding
as an eye-witness and really do not believe it will last. All is
pretending, and such practices erode our integrity. We omit our
particular calling, which requires effort and often suffering.

Down-to-Earth. We need to know the conditions of the world
around us, the time of day, the directions and distances to other
places, the seasons of the year, the direction of the wind, the
berries that are ripening right now, the shortening of the daylight
at this time of year, the coming of autumn when the summer is now
half spent. Being down-to-Earth means we know what is happening,
are willing to make practical judgments and are living sustainably.
We learn to know our limitations and how these can be overcome in
practical ways. We accept the good advice of a wide assortment for
people who are living according to a sense of shortness of life and
respect for the Earth.

Knowing Conditions. We do not deny the hard facts about our
life (we are getting older; we can't play sports like the other
kid; we are not smart enough or energetic enough to undertake every
task). We do not offer excuses, but see ourselves called to do one
or another task, which is somewhat challenging. And we do not try
to escape, but are willing to face issues squarely for what they
are. This is being down-to-Earth.

This brings us full circle. We must take up the cross which
is the sweaty work the Lord calls us to do. We cannot excuse, deny
or escape. The reality is before us. Knowing our current
conditions and limitations helps us truly be down-to-Earth.

August 29, 2005 Leaving the Nest

This spring I watched a robin enticing the young to leave its
nest. The parent bird pretended to give it food and then moved
away as the young one stretched to reach for the supposed worm. It
was being taught to leave the nest and to first flit from twig to
twig and then flutter down to the ground. What seemed so healthy
is that the parent bird was teaching in such a confident manner.
leaving the nest simply had to occur -- and that is what is
occurring in many homes as well about this time of year. Kids are
off to school for the first time -- leaving the nest. Parents shed
a tear and hate to see them go. It is hard to let go, and
especially if the loved one has been so dependent. This essay
could apply not just to those going to kindergarten, grade school,
boarding school, or college but also to the passing of a loved one
into eternal life.

If I focus only on the home dweller with a school-bound
resident, I could hardly speak, having never experienced an
offspring off to school. But if the hurt is two ways, then the
experience is more universal. I did leave home even though I was
as reluctant as most to admit a downside to the leave-taking.
Granted through the cell phone and e-mail today's leaver-takers and
the leave-taken folks feel far more connected than a half century
ago. And that softens the hurt to some degree. Maybe the one
leaving is not as hurt as the one left. That parent or caregiver
worries about little and big things, how the leave-taker will fare,
whether there are dangers or risks or troubles lurking around the
corner. Or maybe it is the missing the songs and radio and phone
calls and conversation ever so brief and clipped.

Whatever the cause of the empty feeling, a void comes with the
emptying of the house. However, that can be rapidly filled by
other activities all the while retaining the concern about the
leave-takers. Softening the departure for the one left may include
some little steps:

* Keeping in touch. The feeling of support is mutual. Make
connections a routine matter. Even sending and receiving clothes
for cleaning may seem a burden but it has a dependency worth
continuing at least for a period.

* Giving more attention, sometimes with neighborhood groups
or the church or local school or through writing.

* Saying a prayer for this is a difficult time for those who
are cut loose and finding their own way.

* Encouraging the leave-taker to become immersed in the school
or other place and to make good judgments on new challenges.

* Arranging for the next home visit and make this something
to look forward to. Good luck!

August 30, 2005 Needing Rest

We speak of rest as a component of activity. In various
formats of prayer, retreat, and vacation we speak about the need to
create a favorable rhythm in life, one in which both rest and
activity are in harmony. Some would say that the lazy person has
taken the first portion too seriously, and that the hyperactive has
overdone the second. We need to value the delicate balance between
getting up because much needs to be done, and lying down because
rest is as needed as work and we can only do so much.

Amount of rest will vary from person to person -- and it
would be a mistake to project our personal needs onto others. I
tend to be overactive, but do spend ample time at rest, never
having ever burnt midnight oil on studies or virtually anything
else for that matter. Nor have I ever taken a sleeping pill of any
sort. The span of rest time for ones without stress may not be as
long as for those who are depressed or overstressed in other ways.
The customary seven hours of sleep is more than sufficient for me,
but maybe not enough for others, especially the very young and the
very old. Take what you need and don't apologize. I can drop off
on a long trip for ten minutes and be completely refreshed for
another hundred or so miles of driving. Others can't do that so
easily and drive or continue somewhat rest deprived.

Our nation is overly active and people attempt to follow
their peers and stay up to wee hours. That doesn't go well for
those who have regular jobs beginning early. They can't start all
bushed, or else the boss will note it. They need to relax when
possible. Sitting in an airport or at a stop light and the next
person is busy dialing and talking with someone about virtually
nothing. Can't they just sit and do what the old southern lady
said, "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits."
Resting has a particular place in the overly active person's life,
for that is the time to do nothing, to organize one's thoughts, to
plot out the next step, and to help make the major decisions in
life. We need rest and yet it is shortened by far too many.

We are not God but finite. We need to recoop our energies and
the harmony that surrounds our lives. We can tell whether a person
gets enough rest or not. Something tells it all -- amount of
attention span, the shadows under the eyes, restlessness in
demeanor, forced manner of conversation, and other hints. People
are sleep-deprived and regard it as a sign of status or importance.
This lack of rest is an impoverishment brought on by too little
time and too much to do, and often by failing to have a rigid
schedule. Many of us undervalue that rest, and we prefer to think
that filling the time with activities will do more for us.

Rest is craved by all as the call to eternal rest; rest is
the heart of the matter of living well; rest is what we can easily
deprive others of without them objecting; rest is golden, peace-
loving, energy-building, blissful, and, most of all, necessary.
Rest is our preparation for eternity.

August 31, 2005 Relief Agencies

Healing the Earth involves assisting victims of disaster and
those in extreme conditions. This is part of our Christian
mandate, the compassion we show for all who suffer on this planet.
A true healer is one who is open and willing to help and that goes
beyond causes that triggers one's fancy or has long-term
consequences. Immediate needs stand out, though we are often
troubled by what cause deserves our limited charity.

At the start of this year we heard about the late December
Tsunami victims in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other
nations bordering the Indian Ocean. The worldwide response has
been heartwarming. Only later have we heard that some of the aid
was misplaced, or not being distributed to those in greatest need,
or that some hard-hit regions were completely left neglected. No
agency work is perfect, but much was done after that disaster for
many of the half million victims. Several international agencies
have excellent records both in time of crisis and treating victims
of famine or general poverty.

All have favorite agencies where our charitable donations will
assist others in needs. Though I like a variety of groups which
are not sectarian or specific in their charity such as Oxfam, the
UN Childrens' Relief Fund, and Catholic Relief Service, still I
have this favorite which is more concerned about long-term relief
and development, the -- Catholic Near East Welfare Association.

(CNEWA) helps all Christian groups in the Middle East from
Ethiopia to as far as India. What I like about this agency is that
it quietly gives assistance in clergy training, libraries,
development programs, parish building and relief groups among those
who are non-Catholic Christian (Coptic and Armenian Oriental,
Syrian and other Orthodox, Church of the East, etc.) as well as
Catholic oriental groups. Few other church agencies have such a
record of broad-based church-related support. CNEWA assists in
educational projects, irrigation work, and small-scale business
start-ups among poor people with no other opportunities for help.
Their monthly One keeps the donor abreast of some of these
projects.

Address: CNEWA United States
1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022-4195
1-877-284-3808
www.cnewa.org

Copyright © 2007 Earth Healing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Albert J. Fritsch, Director
Janet Powell, Developer
Mary Byrd Davis, Editor
Paul Gallimore, ERAS Coordinator

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