It’s certainly easy to feel overwhelmed with all the different kinds of climate news that we read or hear about every day. Far from us geographically but close to its impact on how we live, is the Colorado River. It is precipitously low. It supplies water to 40 million persons in seven states and irrigates 55 million acres of our most productive farm land.
Arizona, California and Nevada have finally agreed to take less water in exchange for $1.2 billion to irrigation districts. The deal holds for only four years. We in the East may not have the same impact on our agriculture but the use of water for lawn sprinklers not just in the West is a real waste of this most valuable resource.
Greedy development and clear cutting vast acres of forest threatens our water supply as well, even where we don’t think that it will. Much of our forest land is in private ownership and the owners need to be included in the proposed Farm Bill now in Congress. Forests help protect us from soil erosion; they contribute to healthy ground water that feeds our streams and rivers as well, not to mention being homes to the many creatures part of God’s creation.
Prayer for the Day
Abiding God, grant us your presence here this day
As we seek to serve you in this world;
Move us from our gray tinted spectacles,
Into the multi-colored world of your kingdom.
Open our eyes beyond what we see with our eyes
And our minds beyond mere thoughts to a deeper knowledge
In the name of the One who opens the world to us,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
This [agreement] is an important step forward toward our shared goal of forging a sustainable path for the basin that millions of people call home.
- Camille Calimlim Touton, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Forests are our nation’s greatest renewable resource. They generate economic opportunity, mitigate key factors in climate change, provide critical ecosystems to support biodiversity and improve human health.
- Jay Farrell, National Association of State Foresters
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God. It is God who has made us,
And we are God’s, we belong to God and are the sheep of God’s pasture.
Psalm 100: 1-3