Growing up, stewardship of creation was not a high value. I was taught to be a good steward of course, but this exclusively meant being a good steward towards others. Be generous. Be gracious. Be kind. I was taught to value the soul of another human no matter how different he/she was. In Sunday School I often heard the parable of the widow’s offering. The parable highlights the importance of stewarding what we have well for the sake of others. Hearing this parable time and time again invited me to generous living and living for others. I revelled at this opportunity. Young Justin wanted to help others.

This was a great invitation of course, but I am realizing was an incomplete one. No doubt, stewarding ourselves, our finances, our time, and our relationships holds great importance. But what does it mean to steward the land?

I have been reflecting on Genesis 1. Genesis 1:28 instructs humans to “subdue” the earth and “have dominion over it”. Unfortunately, I think this call has been misinterpreted by many evangelicals to “have power over” which generally leads to exploitation. Furthermore, the American dream invites us to pursue “life, liberty and property” as enlightenment thinker John Locke would contend. The pursuit of ownership has been built into us through false promises of what brings happiness. This guise of the American dream is backed by many of our interpretations of scripture.

One of the first times I encountered somebody who radically stewarded our land well was Scott. Scott is quirky. Scott has a solar powered oven. Scott does sun salutations. Scott composts. As someone who grew up in a background that treats the earth as something that merely serves our purposes, I was confused that someone could have this kind of a relationship with the earth. Why treat it like something that is equal to us?

Meeting with Lenore Three Stars during our time with Global Immersion has helped bring language to the call in Genesis 2 that invites us to “cultivate and care for” the earth. The land is divinely created. Humans have the privilage to take part and receive from it. But just as we are welcomed to receive from the earth, we are also invited to give to it. Jesus invites us to give to it.

The next time I take something (fruit, a rock, a seashell), I am going to practice stewardship by thanking the earth and its creator for its provision. This might be uncomfortable, but learning and stewardship often is.