In Their Words . . . Kate Hagborg
June 23, 2008
This post originally appeared in Creation Care Magazine.
This event was my first exposure to any sort of organized political activity. When the van full of Southern college students came to pick me up in Chapel Hill, I harbored secret doubts as to qualification for this conference. After all, I didn’t consider myself to be an “activist,” and I was a greenhorn to the green movement— what have I gotten myself into? I thought.
But my fears were quickly quelled upon meeting Rusty from EEN and the other college students in his tow. They were not a collection of fiery, protesting tree-huggers who would resent me for not knowing the rate of melting permafrost; no, instead, they were normal college students, mostly like me, who have recently been learning about mankind’s culpability in warming the earth, and who want to repent personally and effect broader social change as an expression of the gospel’s restoration of all things. And each staff member of EEN and Restoring Eden that we met were humble, approachable and passionate, eager to know us as college students and to help us organize movements of creation care and environmental protection on our campuses.
I learned so much throughout the three days about climate change, how to take political action, and how decisions on Capitol Hill are made. I met thirty other college students and heard about their work on their campuses, such as starting recycling and compost programs, or bringing in guest speakers from Alaskan tribes to speak firsthand about the changing climate, and I was both encouraged and inspired for greater vision for my own campus.
But what I am most grateful for is that this conference gave me hope. Climate change is such an overwhelming issue, and the daily news tempts me to despair. But this conference was a reminder to me that as believers in the Risen Christ, we must not despair. For all creation waits in eager longing for the future glory that is promised us in Christ, when creation will be set free from decay, and until then, we proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand by doing whatever we can to restore creation and humanity back to God.
This gathering of believers was, to me, a precious reminder and expression of our hope that will not disappoint us.
Comments
Got something to say?
