Tip #13 Take a Hike

Green Living: a series in which we provide tips to help you implement practices, habits, and products into your life which respect and work towards the redemption of God’s creation.

I have said it before and will say it again: we cannot care for what we do not appreciate. How can we care for God’s creation if we do not know, understand, and appreciate it? So, this week’s Green Living tip is found in a different vein.

As many of us today live in concrete jungles where buildings often take the place of trees and cars replace animals, it is often necessary to get away to appreciate God’s creation. Enter hiking. In this world of untold beauty, we are never too far from a trail that allows us to experience God’s creation. Even the largest cities have small getaways in the heart of the city where one can go to explore the beauty of creation.

I, myself, was blessed to have parents that frequently took us on hikes out into creation. Whether in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Sequoias, somewhere around the world, or just beyond our backyard it was (and still is) part of our family custom to explore creation through hiking. I believe that this laid deep roots for me that when later coupled with a theology of creation care played a significant role in shaping who I am and what I do today.

As a parent myself, I work hard to help my young daughter appreciate creation. At the same time, it is sometimes daunting to bring children along for these sorts of adventures. As I was looking through my friend Anna Clark’s recent book Green, American Style: Becoming Earth-Friendly and Reaping the Benefits I discovered a wonderful, little section about involving kids in going green. The following are some tips she shares about nature hiking with kids which I find helpful:

• Choose an appropriate venue to explore. I do not have to hike up Everest with my daughter in order for her to appreciate creation. There are a variety of options from which I can choose the more appropriate ones for my family and context.
• Be as general or specific as you want. Whether specifically looking for animal tracks, a particular type of plant, or just exploring in general, the key is to be intentional about observing God’s creation around you.
• Pack a zero-waste picnic lunch. Avoid disposable packaging and containers. Anna points out that you can, “use the reusable containers to take home leftovers and add them to your compost.” I love it.
• Bring a bag to tote home collectibles such as leaves, rocks, and flowers. Of course, be careful as some places demand that you “leave only footprints, take only memories.” But, where allowed and not harmful, a leaf or other item may serve as a great reminder or be a point of further exploration.

I encourage you to take a hike and intentionally discover the beauty of this world our Lord created for us. As you further appreciate God’s creation, you will have a greater desire to care for it.

Also consider:

Natural Clothes Dryer

Green Office: Printing

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