“We’re called to be good stewards of the Earth; not to waste and to care for our planet.” ~ B. Haglund
Amelia had missed this beach. At daylight, the sand cast a golden hue, almost
earthen and muted. She missed the driftwood
arriving on buoyant waves as tiny rescue vessels. Then there was also the seaweed, the deeply-green
flora of those salty waters, and the tall dune grass that whispered so sweetly
into the gusting breeze. After two years
of masks, vaccines, and quarantines, she was so ready for a morning run along
the seashore.
Instead of more beauty than the soul could absorb, Amelia
was shocked at the amount of trash littering the area. Water and alcohol bottles, plastic bags,
cigarette butts, and food packaging.
Disgusting didn’t even come close to describing the scene.
Add a whole new category of repugnant litter: discarded face
masks, sanitizing wipes, and latex gloves used to keep COVID at bay. Because they're not biodegradable or able to
be recycled, masks and gloves may end up in bodies of water or swallowed by
marine creatures.
Up ahead, something caught her attention - a man and woman
with big plastic bags were picking up the beach’s junk. At first, Amelia thought they might be
cleaning up after their own party but soon realized that wasn’t the case. So, she approached the woman who introduced
herself as Birgit in a thick German accent.
“I came out this morning hunting for seashells and found the
coast filthy,” Birgit explained. “I
don’t want to spend my vacation surrounded by garbage. So, I clean it!”
Tired but happy, they placed their “treasures” into an empty
trash can. But not before glancing out
at an amazing sunset, perhaps made more beautiful by God, and His Angels casting
down an appreciative sign.
At times this world’s problems can seem overwhelming. You wonder what can be done to make a
difference. But the truth is EVERYTHING
you do makes a difference! The average
American creates almost 5 pounds of waste every single day. Every time you stoop to pick up a single piece
of trash you make a difference in God’s world.
Every smile you share makes a difference. Every helping hand you extend makes a
difference. Every prayer you pray makes a difference. Every kind word you say makes a difference. Every loving thought you think, every hug you
share, every flower you plant, every animal you save, everything you do, no
matter how small, makes a difference in this world.
