earthcare connections

| spirituality |

Those who place their faith in things bigger than they are, things that transcend them, things that will be there after them, things beyond their ability to encapsulate or comprehend, or know the cosmos, etc., might demonstrate a greater ability to recognize, to demonstrate, to practice, to truly know sustainability.

-John E. Carroll, PhD,
“Sustainability and Spirituality” in Catholic Rural Life,
Spring 2002.

The spirit is an entity that encompasses life. Thus, to be spiritual is to be alive. Many people are so focused on certain aspects of life that they ignore the objects around them. While being spiritual does not necessarily mean becoming involved in organized religion, Earthcare Connections is supported by organized religion. However, it does not force these religious views upon others. Spirituality is about being open: open to the endless possibilities in life, open to the questions we cannot answer, open to the seen and the unseen. It is a reflection upon life. It is the many ways we have been blessed with gifts -- and not just material possessions. Life is a gift; health is a gift; creation is a gift.

Creation is the focus of Earthcare Connections’ work. Creation is all things. Everything we know has come from the earth, or is a result of the products of the earth, in one form or another. Creation is the soil on which we walk and the air we breathe. Creation refers not only to rural or isolated areas, but the urban areas as well.

Creation is about relationships. Each element of creation is dependent upon something else. This dependence defines each element’s place in the realm of creation. If there is a disturbance in one component, it affects not only the individuals involved, but also the whole. This is why we are called to become more responsible for our actions. We must give back to the earth from which we take. Although the earth is not ours to own, we have the responsibility to care for the earth.