"Ground" | Reflection by Emily Dowden, Seminarian Intern

Then God said, “…let dry ground appear!” And that is what happened: God called the dry ground “land.” – Genesis 1:9-10

I’ve been thinking a lot about John Philip Newell’s book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World. It has inspired me to think about the divine in different ways, and to wonder about all of the places God is, that I never thought to look. Most importantly, it has challenged me to consider in what ways I fail to treat the Earth—our shared ground—with the love and care it needs and deserves. 

In what ways, big or small, have all of us failed to treat the Earth with the love and care it needs and deserves?

During this Lenten season, I’ve committed to driving only when I absolutely have to; to bring reusable shopping bags everywhere I shop; and to continue to be intentional about recycling and composting. These practices, in addition to the ones I was already doing, are ones I intend to take with me outside of Lent as well. 

As I reflect on this word, ground, and our treatment of the earth, I’m also reminded of one of my favorite places. This picture here is from the village of Port Jefferson, my hometown. This ground is sacred to me, and I pray that it—and everywhere else in the world—can be preserved for the generations to come, by our small efforts collectively making a big difference.