I am up in the Rockies on retreat with the women from Longs Peak UMC (CO) and taking time to pray for the laity and clergy of the Mountain Sky Conference as we prepare for Sunday worship.
I have been meditating all day on this picture I saw this morning.
It is a picture of Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, taken in August 2018. At 15, she became so concerned about climate change and the lack of action on the part of politicians that she took time off from school to demonstrate outside the Swedish Parliament, calling for stronger policies related to the environment. Soon, other students from around the world started to join her and together they formed a school climate strike movement called “Fridays for Future.”
More and more young people have been engaging in Fridays for Future and yesterday, September 20, 2019, young people on every continent (yes, including Antarctica) participated in Climate Strike demonstrations in a show of global solidarity. There were over 2500 events scheduled in over 163 countries. Estimates put the number of participants at over 4 million.
Young people from across our conference participated. Here are pictures of climate strikes in all the five states of the MSC. Look closely and you might recognize some of our young people!
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| Wyoming |
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| Denver |
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| Helena |
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| Idaho |
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| Utah |
I am struck by the power of one—one young girl saw something that needed to be addressed, and from her first lone witness, a movement was born. As Margaret Mead once noted, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
As people of faith, we know the truth of that statement. Throughout the history of our faith, we see how the power of one can change human history: Moses, David, Deborah, Esther, Mary, Paul, John the Baptist…the list goes on and on! From these lone figures, others were inspired, liberated, made whole.
Jesus—God-With-Us—walked a solitary path but invited others in. From the initial 12, to a whole community, humanity’s path was forever changed. We gather in our churches because of a movement he began, grounded in Love’s power.
So as you look around your community, what is that one thing you are being called to address, challenge, change? How are you stepping up and speaking out? How are you inviting others to do the same?
The movement towards God’s Beloved Community begins with one person taking one step.
Lovely article... She needs our prayers for her safety... So many messengers of peace have been lost by ignorant people who kill them, to keep the status quo. She and her parents need our prayers as well as gratitude.
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