Renewable energy, renewed planet
Problems, personal or worldwide, present an opportunity to turn to prayer. How to slow down global warming and still supply the world's increasing energy needs is one of those challenges. Not only is the problem baffling, but the solutions offered so far have had only a mixed reception.
Promoting clean-air technologies in developing countries is part of a solution noted in President Bush's State of the Union address (see Monitor, Jan. 30, 31).
It's heartening to realize that existing technologies could provide energy that won't pour so much carbon into the atmosphere. And we can expect further developments in this area as well as some form of international agreement on their use. Finding energy sources beside nonrenewable oil and coal is also a promised solution. Yet none of these technologies is without some kind of drawback. So the question remains: how to make good decisions about such complex issues?
There's value in turning to God, Spirit, for solutions. In fact, the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," speaks of energy in spiritual terms. Its author, Mary Baker Eddy, who was very much abreast of the news during her lifetime, declared, "Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy" (p. 249).
To shift our thoughts from limited resources that are either quickly being depleted, or that have ecological drawbacks, to looking deeply into God's infinite care for His creation can be quite transforming. For one thing, divine Spirit doesn't include matter – and neither does its creation. The "divine energy of Spirit" might be defined as Love, which supplies direction and strength to fulfill the obligations of a busy life. This divine energy is eternally renewable and includes no element of destruction. It promises that not only can we personally expect a wonderful feeling of newness but that Spirit can inspire humanity to discover new methods for generating energy and reveal new ways to help save our planet.
The Lord's Prayer as recorded in the Bible (see Matt. 6:9-13) is a wonderful starting place for connecting one's thought with divine energy. This prayer begins with "Our Father" and concludes, "Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever." The recognition that power belongs to God assures us that energy is not simply material but is of the one God, Spirit.
Many thinkers today are recognizing that the universe, including man, is more than a material creation and actually has a spiritual origin. In their eyes, the universe is governed by spiritual law and powered by unlimited and renewable divine energy. This energy naturally finds expression in new and better ways of living.
Often it is a spiritual, moral energy motivating scientists and government leaders to seek ways to reverse global warming. Many have spoken of their great desire to make the world a better place. And environmentalists express their concern for the polar bears and other species that are threatened because of global warming. Some propose that we set limits to greenhouse-gas emissions as a way to encourage research into ways to achieve cleaner energy. Certainly these concerns come not from selfish indulgence but from the love inspired by divine Spirit.
In reality, we are dwellers in a spiritual universe where all energy is divine. The more we recognize and yield to this divine energy, the more we'll feel not only newness of life individually but also find more ways of conserving and renewing all the elements that make up daily living. Each of us has our part in working together to accept the divine energy that God is providing and to let God guide us to steps we can take to renew our planet.
