The division between “nature” and “civilization” is, to a certain extent, artificial. Ask the dandelions. They don’t care where they grow. They just want to turn their yellow faces to the sun, displaying God in their daily growth.
Not only is this cultural definition of nature artificial, but it can also be damaging. Our current concept of wilderness, holding the idea that wilderness is perfect and needs to be preserved, is a relatively new one. Until a couple of hundred years ago, ‘wilderness’ within white culture was a place of unknown to be feared and dominated, civilized. Only recently have we gotten it into our heads that we need to set apart some portion of wilderness to remain untouched. In fact, many of the lands in the US that we deign to preserve in their “natural” state are the way they are because of centuries of Native American cultivation; the Great Plains, for example. Setting aside parts of creation to preserve it allows us to think we can care less about the rest of creation, and it’s not even a very faithful way of caring for those set-aside parts of creation.
·What do you mean when you say “creation” or “nature”?
·Exposing a cultural reality can be difficult and frustrating. What is your first reaction to this idea? What do you feel? What do you think?
·Does the phrase “caring for creation” change meaning at all if it encompasses all of creation, not just creation that’s “out there?”
·Most of Scripture is concerned with our work-a-day lives. What does it mean to you to think of your everyday life as within creation?
The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature. William Cronon. 1995.
While the "creation that is out there" is beautiful and vital, it is very important to realize that the creation in our cities is also well-cared for. Changing attitudes is not easy, though. Humans have the tendency to put themselves first, doing whatever seems fine in the moment (i.e., throwing that wrapper or cigarette butt on the ground rather than taking the time to find a trash can). It is frustrating to me when people don't have the desire to cherish the creation around them. May humans realize before it's too late that all of creation needs to be cared for, including humans.