Sarah tagged me to do this meme, but I’m afraid I’m not very green at all!
What’s the Bible verse/passage that best describes the way you think the world should be?
I don’t know if this counts, as it’s not a description of particular circumstances in the same way that Sarah’s chosen passage (Acts 2:42-47) was, but never mind.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the LORD has annointed me
to preach good news to the poor,
He has sent me to bind-up the broken hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour
and the day of vengence of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and to provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.(Isaiah 61:1-3, New International Version)
If I could choose another one, which also doesn’t quite fit the bill as the answer to the question, it would be this one (sorry, I know I’m cheating already):
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
(Colossians 3: 12-14, New International Version)
When was the last time you rode a bicycle?
In 2001/2, not sure when, around the courtyardy bit in front of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It was my friend’s bike and I just rode it to see whether or not I could still ride one, as I hadn’t ridden a bike for about 8 years before that.
Have you ever written to an MP or other ‘powers that be’ about a green issue? If so, what was it? If you do this often, what was the last one?
I can’t remember whether I have or not. I used to do Superbadger, but alas I stopped writing to people. I’m not really sure why. I was probably feeling defeatist at the time. Bad Bookmouse.
What’s your favourite green product?
Recycled toilet paper!
What’s your favourite source of ‘green’ clothing?
Erm. I don’t think I have any green clothing. If I did, it would probably be charity shops. I don’t buy many new clothes. Does that help?
What’s your most unusual green handy hint?
I don’t think I’m green enough to give anyone green handy hints! If I don’t drink all my water I let the plants drink it instead of pouring it down the sink. Erm. We reuse all the Chinese take-away boxes, of which we have far, far too many. I have a compost bin. That’s about it, I’m afraid. I don’t have a car. I always felt virtuous about this, until I did a survey once about carbon or something and realised the fact that I don’t drive doesn’t really make that much difference to how environmentally friendly or not I am. Alas.
If you would like to do this meme, please do!
Hi Lilian,
It’s an interesting one, selecting a Biblical passage that describes the world as it ought to be. On balance, I would say that both the passages you went for were very well chosen (and very relevant) – certainly much more than what I initially had in mind. If you’re of a mind to be bored I’ll explain further.
I was leafing through the Book trying to find something I thought was quite appropriate, but when I read the chapter on the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus, it just did’t seem to wash much (especially in our modern society where ‘be nice to your slaves’ is a bit non-PC).
Perhaps the most wonderful and uplifting descriptions of our world are to be found in the pages of Genesis, before mainkind collectively decided he knew better than his Creator. Still, I suppose I shouldn’t complain. There’s no guarantee that humans in following their charter to explore and steward the world would have developed the ironclad or instant coffee. So in one small sense it could be argued that we averted a mini-disaster….it’s just a pity we just totally ruined our prospects in a major way to do it!
Anyway, I’m straying off track. I shall have to see if I can find something Biblical that describes a better world. Surely Jesus said something useable along these lines…I shall have to have a look for some specific examples. Quite worrying, this – I thought I knew my Bible better than that!
Hallo Mr C
I thought I knew my Bible better as well but sort of thought Ezekiel, Psalms or Corinthians
Not really a better world in the “green” sense but a better world in a human sense “but unless I have love I am nothing”, “My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth”, “there is a time for everything”
I’ve not actually consulted The Book for these but just let them float into my mind so I may be wrong about the words and the place they come from.
Hi Hazel,
Those sound very good too. I haven’t managed to look yet, but the words and the sources sound right. I’ve just realized I completely bypassed the most beautiful aspect of the the early part of Genesis, that being God’s immediate and visible presence in the company of the new species he had just created! When I was little the image of God strolling in the garden with Adam and Eve was always one of my favourites…
How could I have missed that? The Garden of Eden before “The Fall” must be the greenest green the world has ever seen!