Here in the Seattle Center, we’re starting a new project—eco-consciousness—a chance for us to wake up to our relationship with the earth. This is totally new and it will evolve. The general idea is that at the beginning of each month, I send out an email to the community about an area for us to focus our attention, prayers, and action on at the Center. The intention is that we keep building on what we’re taking on each month. Some months we might continue the theme from the last month, and some months the consciousness might be more about home than the Center.

When I learned I would be spearheading this new project, I felt it immediately as a huge gift. I thought, “Cool! I like the earth and helping to raise consciousness around it.” And then, as has been a pattern of mine, I heard worry and doubt when I sat down to actually see what that would mean. Wait! Responsibility?! What if…My mind came up with a lot of ideas of what to start with and how little I know about it yet…then, I used what I do know, breathing out the worry about getting it right and breathing in Jesus and Mary’s love. It really sunk in that God is giving me so much MORE than I could cling to on my own. For years I have been interested in ecology and now I get to be part of putting this into action in a loving, powerful way with my community without avoiding the reality of working together. I can also see that once the excitement of starting this wears off, I get to heal the wound that has had me jumping at new projects in order to prove something or fit in to get love. I also get to learn how to ask for help, brainstorm with Rev. Louise and the community at the Center, find out what is working and what completely bombs…all without going small.

On a practical level, I can let go of making everything a big deal…ahem…that means not obsessing over every piece of trash to control the experience or writing a dissertation each month to prove I’m doing a good job at this. I get to discern by asking God what’s up each month. Jesus and Mary, what’s your opinion? Where does God want us to flow now?

So…this first month of July, is about food…“Food, Glorious Food!” What we eat and where it comes from. I’m starting with this one because many of us are on the Schwarzbein diet and it builds on the abundance from the Pea Patch, our community garden, down the street where we’re growing veggies for Sunday brunch. But what else is here for us to see about our food? And what can we do as a community together this month? The take home points are about eating as locally as possible for all food, and especially choosing grass fed/no antibiotic meat. So we’re starting with going in to buy beef together at a farm in Washington, and each community member is encouraged to shop locally.

On the horizon for Eco-Consciousness project will be:

  • Food (what we eat and where it comes from)
  • Space/water heating and cooling (buildings account for 40% of energy consumption!)
  • Transportation
  • Water (conservation of it and possibly using ‘gray water’)
  • Waste management (compost, recycling, trash)
  • Products (nontoxic home and personal products)

So, even though I haven’t a clue what will go down in the long run with this eco-conscious project, I know this is an awesome grace I’ve been given. It’s an opportunity for me to use the Law to create what I want: a more loving, conscious and clear world.

By Leah, Student, Seattle