Today is Earth day. Over the years this was celebrated as Arbor day which originated in Nebraska City. I remember that when I was an employee of the great state of Nebraska, this was one holiday that I got off. I have to admit that I did not do anything "earthy" and usually spent the day probably increasing my carbon footprint. How times have changed. Just 30 years ago, there were the beginnings of concern about environmental issues. Carlson's "Silent Spring" came out on the dangers of DDT. There were concerns of the effects of Agent Orange not only on the jungles of Viet Nam but also on our military. Smog alerts were common in California and spreading to cities such as Phoenix and Denver. Water pollution was also making headlines and the concept of Acid Rain.

Over the years we have been negligent about the way we treat Mother Earth. We often spend little time or effort to seriously consider what we are doing to the planet and all life on it. It is only in the past 10 years with the concerns of global warming that many are beginning to take seriously the pollution that we are causing. And even with more and more scientific evidence, we still live in denial of the harm we are causing. If there is a sliver lining in the recession we are experiencing is that the amount of CO2 emissions has decreased.

God has set us to be stewards of creation according to Genesis. We are not to misuse what God has provided us. As we think about living as a disciple of Jesus Christ, let us not forget that we are also called to be faithful stewards of creation.