In his introduction to Wendell Berry’s recent book, Bringing it to the Table, Michael Pollan observes that one of Berry’s favorite quotes comes from British agronomist, Sir Albert Howard. He urges us to think of “the whole problem of health in soil, plant, animal and man as one great subject” (p. xi). In a world in which we’ve become ever more disconnected from the production of food, and thus unaware of where or how it is raised, Howard’s statement comes crashing home when we reflect on the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to chicken eggs.

The more than 500 million eggs that have been recalled since mid-August come from two large egg producers (producing nearly 6 million eggs per day). FDA Investigators found contaminated water, contaminated feed, manure piled 4-8 feet high until it burst the seems of the buildings, and rodents running through the chicken houses. In addition, investigators “found dead maggots and live flies that crunched under foot.” Apparently a spokesman for one of the farms indicated that they’ve addressed the concerns as soon as they were identified by the FDA. These issues required trained investigators to uncover them?

Sir Albert Howard’s statement (and all of Berry’s writings that develop it) is another way of saying that everything is linked together. When we consume food we consume the earth itself. We are made form the earth and consume the earth when we eat. Healthy soil/environment gives rise to healthy plants to healthy animals to healthy humans. So what might we do about reconnecting the dots? To see what one family is doing, check out my colleague Jeff Kloha’s thoughts, “Together with All Chickens” at concordiatheology.org

When I think of the great plains, I think of wide open spaces, undulating landscapes like waves of an ocean, corn and wheat. I don’t think of wetlands. Yet on my way back from a workshop in Atwood, KS (where Don and Bonnie White were wonderful hosts), I stopped at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. It is located pretty much in the center of Kansas. And it consists of nearly 22,000 acres of wetlands and salt marshes. As it turns out, it provides an important stopover for migratory birds along the Central Flyway of the United States. I get that.

What surprised me was the discovery that shore birds and wading birds (including, Whooping Cranes) stop by here as they head north in the spring and south in the fall. When I think of shore birds I think of them as living along the coasts of the Pacific and Atlantic. I did not think of them as migrating through Kansas. Yet here they are. In that it regard, it opened a whole new world for me. These are quite different from the warblers of the woodlands. When I came, many of the birds had just begun to migrate. Yet I got to see a few new species, including the White-faced Ibis, American Avocets and Black-necked Stilt.

All in all, pretty cool. I must definitely return more toward the height of migratory season. Also, check out Friends of Quivira as well and this Kansas site. On a historical note, the legendary explorer Coronado visited Quivira in search of a city of gold.

Image: wiki commons

The summer issue of the Concordia Journal (published by the faculty of Concordia Seminary) has just come out and its centered on the theme of “Caring for God’s Groaning Earth.”  It’s a terrific issue (of course, I am a bit biased). In addition, it provides a balance Biblical approach to the topic. It doesn’t say everything that could be said but does chart out some directions that we need to pursue.

Its contents include “The Cathedral of Creation” (by President Dale Meyer), “Caring for God’s Groaning Earth” (by yours truly), Yahweh versus Marduk: Creation Theology in Isaiah 40-55” (by Dr. Reed Lessing), “Good Stuff? The Material Creation and the Christian Faith” (by Pastor Mark Surburg), “Getting our Bearings: Wendell Berry and Christian Understanding” (by Pastor Joel Kurz), and “Getting up to Speed: What Should I Read” (by yours truly and Beth Hoeltke).

Contact the office of the Concordia Journal, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, Clayton, MO 63105. Also check out, www.concordiathoelogy.org.

I like the wide open spaces of the great plains, with the wavy hills and the big sky with its incredible cloudscapes.  Perhaps it is because I don’t feel claustrophobic. Perhaps it is the size of place puts everything in perspective. This past Spring I traveled through Nebraska to see the SandHill Crane migration.  Last summer it was Iowa (I was leading a workshop in West DesMoines). This summer it is Kansas (for a workshop in Colby).

So on my way through Kansas, yesterday, I stopped at the Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve. It is jointly operated by the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy (one of my favorite conservation organizations). It is part of one the largest, original tall grass prairie ecosystems left in existence.

Of course, as usual, I visited during the first week of August when all of the flowers and Bluestem grass are not yet in full bloom. And of course, as usual, I arrive around noon on a hot blistering day (I have to to remember to bring a hat with me!). Still, I enjoyed the two mile hike on the South Wind (aptly named) trail. During that hike saw a number of birds, heard plenty of insects (I have to get an identification guide for them), and many Royal Fritillary butterflies.

The Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve isn’t as well developed (in terms of a visitor’s center and exhibits etc) as is the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge south of DesMoines. It does have a helpful visitor’s center and is testimony to the Nature Conservancy’s dedication to preserving the land. The Preserve is quiet, peaceful, and has some terrific views of rolling hills of tall grass prairie. It’s well worth a 1-2 hour side trip if you are passing through.

Speaking of the beauty of the plains, check out The Great Plains by Michael Forsberg.

While at the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, a gentleman from Southern Illinois approached me after my presentation and asked, “why hasn’t the church taken the lead on issues regarding our responsibility for creation?” It is not the first time that someone has asked me that question. Their questions implied that the church should be at the forefront of advocating for the responsible care of creation.

The instincts of these questioners are sound. Joel Lehenbauer and I were recently chatting about the connections between the commissions that God gave us in Genesis 1:28 (as well as Genesis 2:15) and Matthew 28:18-20. At first blush, we might think that the first commission was given to every human creature and that the second one was given to the church. He reminded me, however, that Adam and Eve represented not only humanity but also the church. I think Luther talks that way as well. The same applies to Noah. God gives him the task of saving two of every kind of creatures. But Noah is not just anybody. He was a God-fearing man. In a sense, he and his family were pretty much the whole “church.” And when God calls Israel into existence, he warns against cutting down orchards when laying siege to a city and gives them instructions gives them instructions on how to care for His land and his animals.

So it would not be to far afield to say that God’s people (i.e., his church) did take the lead in caring for God’s creation throughout the Scriptures. Other examples can be found periodically throughout Christian history (I’ll give some examples at a later date) although they might not be as frequent we might wish. What about the church today?