Yesterday, Nov. 13, 2017, there was an Op-Ed piece in the San Francisco Chronicle that caught my eye- "Spirit's vital role in climate action." Marc Andrus, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, wrote on the importance of aligning one's deepest inner values with social action, in this particular case, climate action. I found it interesting that such a "religious" perspective was out there for everyone to read. For years, I've felt that any social action for justice must be undergirded by a deep awareness of spiritual values. He writes "Within your heart are values, treasures really--compassion, courage, forgiveness, ambition. These values and more will reveal themselves if you open yourself to them. Our actions depend on these values. Climate action begins within." If we act out of fear or anger, our actions will turn negative and eventually we will burn out in despair. In these challenging times when those of us who believe the data about climate change feel beleaguered and beat up, it is especially important that we connect to something greater than ourselves. It doesn't matter if we call this God or Spirit or just our strong love for Nature. It's not enough just to write a check or march or write to Congress members, first we must pause and connect inwardly to our core's deepest values. Then, aware of these inner values, our actions can be sustained and powerful. For me, whenever I go to the Botanical Garden, I feel a sense of peace flowing through me and I am calmed. In touch with this peace, I am actually praying and it is from this place, as Andrus says that "climate action is prayer." You can't have one with the other, the two parts, inner spiritual awareness of values and social action, must be linked for the most powerful results.
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