An Earth Day Theme:  “Inextricability”

Contributed by:  Dr Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living, Metro

Photo:  SEWA International Volunteers Working in McLean Hamlet Park on April 6

Isn’t “inextricability” (incapable of being disentangled), a great word?  Simply, we cannot get away from one another.  The effects any of us have on the environment – on everyone and everything – affect us all directly and indirectly.  What we do turns back on all of us.  In the Judeo-Christian Bible, Cane asks, Am I my brother’s keeper?  The answer is “Yes!”  We are our brothers’ keepers and our sisters’ and mothers’ and fathers’ keepers. Everything each of us does impacts everyone, just some more than others.

The solution I am proposing is simple yet I do not claim it will be easy, although it could be. Since we are inextricably entangled in everyone else, the solution is a massive shift of consciousness.  A shift at the systemic level that declares in words and more importantly in actions, that we care.  We care about the environment.  We care about one another.  We care about the world we are leaving to our offspring.  Simply, WE CARE!  Some who declare that this approach is not simple, may even claim it is impossible.  Believing that all things are possible, I don’t accept that perspective.  I am confident that it not only is possible, it is sustainable!  And attainment of sustainability requires the commitment and follow through of each person who cares!

There are millions of people and myriad programs that are doing great work and so long as their commitment and energy hold out, they are sustainable.  Fortunately, new recruits come along that are dedicated and step in when those in the trenches fatigue.  They are valiant, amazing people. I laud them and applaud them.  So long as the supply of new people does not wane, those programs will continue.

Some, perhaps many, avowed environmentalists spend more energy focused on what other people are doing or not doing that damages the planet, than on doing something about the environment. Because of the crises cropping up on so many different fronts, this is critical work.  Again, it is only sustainable so long as new crops of dedicated people continue to show up.  Truly, we all need to take a stand against the violators, big and small.

I am inviting people to address the crisis at the systemic level. We need to dig deep and address the consciousness that is not only allowing the contamination of our environment, it is fostering and nurturing it.  We live in a “throw away society,” that condones a disposable mentality.  The ordinary, day-to-day insults to our environment result from a consciousness that stopped washing dishes.  Instead, whether plastic or paper, throw it away and someone (bless the disposal facility personnel) will clean up after the general malaise and laziness.   Alas, there are millions of people who simply drop their trash wherever they are.  A few rationalize that what they are dropping in the streets and parks is biodegradable.  Some don’t care at all.  They apparently assume that the clean-up fairy will come along behind them and fix it.  Some don’t even care whether it is cleaned up. 

The big violators must be called out!  We know we must be a clear stand for stopping the harm they are perpetrating yet feel that stopping those entities is so huge that all our feelings of inadequacy arise.  Rather than remaining in a state of paralysis, I choose to turn to what I/we can do.  By releasing the sense of overwhelm on the huge scale, we have more energy to devote to what we can do … and there is always something that each one of us can do to change the world and help heal the planet.

We can conserve energy by stopping finger pointing and blaming on the local level, join with others and pick up after the thought-less members of society before we drown in others’ waste.  Tysons Interfaith and many other organizations do park and highway cleanups applying critically needed Band-Aids that are not ongoing remedies.  They are short term and again, so long as new volunteers show up to replace burned out ones we can maintain.  But maintaining is not sustaining. 

A shift of consciousness is required for us to switch to a truly sustainable solution.  There are valiant souls who are already taking this approach, and there are those who complain but do not act.  To be sustainable, it is critical for us to embrace a “both/and” approach.  There are those who educate about the fragility of our environment.  Often, they and their students are the ones picking up after the contaminators.  It requires a shift in consciousness from “why should I pick up after someone else,” to “it pleases me to have a pleasant environment, so I’ll pick it up.”   It calls us to commit to events like river and park clean ups and even closer to home … perhaps the trash in front of the neighbor’s house.

This is where “inextricability” comes in.  We cannot be separated from one another … our beings cannot be disentangled. 

The indigenous peoples around the world have always known and taught their offspring that we are inseparable from our environment and from one another.  Traditionally, they honor Oneness … they honor Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants.  We are our brothers’, sisters’, mothers’, fathers’ and strangers’ keepers.

Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for one another.  Let’s remind ourselves that we are all spiritual beings.  Brene Brown defines spirituality as, “…recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.”

When we immerse ourselves in the awareness of Oneness taking care of our planet and its inhabitants is no longer a burdensome responsibility.  It becomes a celebration of interconnectedness and an opportunity to uplift the awareness of others.  It is our opportunity until others learn and embrace their responsibility.  The big question then becomes, “how are we to shift the consciousness of the world?”  When I phrase it that way, it does feel immense and overwhelming.  Let’s “chunk it down to bite size pieces.” 

As Jana Stanfield declares in her song, “All the Good”  … “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.”  We each must ask ourselves, “what small thing can I do?” and then do it consistently so that it grows.  One of the easiest things is to embrace the concept of being an “exemplar” – a person serving as a typical example or excellent model.  People learn by observation.  When we are each an observable example of how we value and care for Mother Nature we are teaching others how they, too, can change the world for the better.  Whether they like it or not, we have then influenced that behavior and their choices.  They are different simply by being exposed to us.  The ultimate result is a shift of their consciousness.

So ask yourself, “If not me, who?  If not now, when?  Embrace Margaret Mead’s admonition:  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Let’s change the world starting right now!

This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.