Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earth Day Everyday...

...but some Earth Day's are more equal than others.

I’ve just come off a beautiful couple MinusCar weeks. 1 car mile driven, 147 bike miles ridden.

--

Recently a few things have inspired me and this morning I found the icing to go on my cake of inspiration.

The Wheel Revolution blogger checked in with her first post in almost two years. She’s a single mom in Portland. Once upon a time she pointed to these words:
"I believe people that think that the globe is warming because of human activity, specifically carbon emitting human activity, might be right. Because I think they might be right, I think humans need to change. And because I think humans need to change, I think I need to change."
…calling them her favorite words on the Internet. Surely she’s found more interesting words since.

What I learned today is her The Boy (Leo) has Alagille Syndrome. What I also learned is this: “Because Leo loves Portland’s bike culture, we love Leo.”

And because they love Leo the riders did wonderful and amazing deeds. The riders held some stuff in common; some even gave of their possessions and goods to Leo who had needs.

Wow. Her story is here.

--

And then in two separate places these two sets of inspirational words popped up on the Internets.
"Great stuff, especially his mini Bible study on Jonah, the people of Ninevah, and its relationship to saving our planet. What a great way of looking at this story. What would the general condition of Christianity be if the mainstream modern American church had embraced the story of Jonah, instead of trying to interpret Revelation to fit their needs. Oh well, just a thought."

"He's big into the green movement apparently. I heard that he is friends with some lifelight workers also, but not sure on that. He seems like a rather odd fellow, kind of a fringe type.”
--

Finally, this Earth Day isn’t going to go by without me restating five core principles that drive The MinusCar Project.

1. Jonah’s three days in the belly of a whale taught him a valuable lesson – proving that one’s form of transportation can matter greatly – “those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good.”

2. Sabbath – imagine millions of people all over the world doing nothing every seventh day. Think of the resources the world would save.

3. Tithing – imagine millions of people all over the world giving away a tenth of everything they earn. Think of the resources the world would save.

4. Fasting – imagine millions of people all over the world regularly fasting. Think of the resources the world would save.

5. Employment – imagine millions of people all over the world quitting their high production jobs and walking around with rabbi. Think of the resources the world would save.

(I said “drive The MinusCar Project.”)

5 comments:

Snakebite said...

"quitting their high production jobs and walking around with rabbi"I don't about rabbi (or any for that matter), but I can understand going on "walk about." Or even "vision quest."

Hmmm.....I could come up with such a ride.....

mytzpyk said...

I'll go! Just let me tend to my family first... ;-)

mytzpyk said...

Which reminds me - you ever seen John Francis "I walk the earth" TED Talk?

LightsOut said...

nice man- I am unsure if the bit on being friends with Lifelight workers is a blessing or a curse to these folks- I especially enjoy it when the blessing IS a curse (thx derek webb)

Snakebite said...

I forgot to ask what the one (1) car mile was for. One (1) car mile? Seems odd but I'm sure there's a GREAT story behind it.

Here's an interesting bible study thingy for you:

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/21/court-turns-down-cha.html