Observe and Interact

 For me, this blog is an exercise in practical theology.  Practical theology attempts to address the most burning issues present in the world by connect the eternal wisdom and guidance contained in the Christian faith with the best societal thinking available regarding the issue at hand.  It is my opinion that the biggest issue of our day is the unsustainability of our current way of life.  Our best scientists have shown that if we do not make drastic changes in human life now, the future looks bleak.

I believe that the principles of permaculture fit well with the principles and values of the Christian faith.  This blog tries to make that connection, and tries to challenge and inspire others to learn about Christianity and permaculture as inspiration and guides.

The Solarium in our Bioshelter Home
We have converted our home into a Permaculture Learning Center

Still, I have not always found the connections easy.  For instance, a woman in our permaculture guild explained to me one day that her tree had told her when it was a good day to harvest the birch sap to make syrup.  The first time, the tree told her, “no.”  A week or two later, the tree said, “yes.” 

Coming from a western cultural background, I found this a curious way to think about things.  Like many westerners, I am more in tune with the practical nature of things.  I’m often uncomfortable when people speak about trees, or nature talking to them.

Yet, this woman is not alone.  As we began planning to build our clay-straw greenhouse (see last week’s blog), one person told us we needed to listen to the land to determine exactly what we needed to build, and another told us to look at the particular clay we had harvested and let it tell us how much straw to add to the mixture.  Others have told about listening to their gardens to learn what grows well and what does not.  It really is not so unusual to hear permaculture folks describing how they “listen” and “hear” from nature.

Much to my surprise, I slowly began to realize that I also have some of these quirks about “listening and hearing from nature.”  I first discovered it in myself when I was asked about piloting my riverboat.  I have been running Alaskan rivers all my life and have been learning and improving in my ability to “read rivers” throughout those years.  Even so, the moment a visitor asked me how I knew the way through a particularly tricky stretch of the river, I found that I couldn’t give a quick answer.  I “just knew” the way to go—the river told me.  Later, after some thought, I was able to point out some of the signs that led to that conclusion.  Yet, on a very real level I felt that I was working in partnership with, and actually communicating with my surroundings in those tricky moments of navigation.  In at least that respect, I truly have learned to listen to the river.

A River Scene From My Father's Boat

 The first principle of permaculture is to listen, observe and interact.  For permaculture consultants, working with the people and the land in a particular context requires spending time with the people and with the land, and getting to know them.  There is a strong relational aspect to working toward a good permaculture design for a place.  Permaculture folks know that any plans for developing a better and more sustainable future has to fit the passions and the potentials of these particular people and of that particular plot of land.  Permaculture folk have learned to be constantly listening, observing and interacting, because they know the value of working hard both on awareness, and on relationships.

People of faith have long known that “observing” is essential for an authentic spirituality.  Because God is at work as the source of all creation, and as the Guide for today and tomorrow, we can expect God to be at work, somehow, in each situation.  We therefore need to pay attention to what is going on, watching and listening for signs of how we might participate beneficially. 

The Bible is full of passages teaching the importance of observing and interacting.  Here are a few of my favorite examples:

·      After creating the universe God rested, spending time in and with God’s creation. 
According to the Bible God “looked,” and saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:31-2:4)

·      As a shepherd, Moses learned remain observant of his surroundings.  One day when he saw a bush that seemed to burn in a strange way (it wasn’t consumed by the flames), he stopped to observe this phenomenon.  According to the Bible, “When God saw that he stopped to look, God spoke to Moses.”  (Exodus 3:1-4)

·      According to Psalm 121, the writer stopped and looked to the hills (observed).  It was then that the Psalmist was moved to celebrate God’s goodness to all creation, and to individuals.

·      When Peter, James and John withdrew with Jesus to a lonely spot that they looked and saw Jesus transformed—suddenly his appearance was surrounded in divine glory, he was seen communing (listening to and speaking with) the writer of the Law (Moses) and the chief of the prophets (Elijah).  And it was in that moment of unusual awareness that they heard God speak.  At that moment God claimed Jesus as God’s own son, and called on the faithful to “listen to him.” (Matthew 17:1-8)

·      Over and over again in the New Testament, the sharing of a particular teaching is followed with a statement something like, “For those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”  (one example of many: Mark 4:9)

In my opinion, the current permaculture movement has much to say to the world.  It addresses the most urgent human need of the day, which is the development of more sustainable ways of living, and it begins by asking us to listen, to observe and to interact.   Remaining observant so one can learn—having ears to hear—has always been an indispensablet for a healthy faith life.

Indeed, the Christian faith teaches us that God is at work from before the beginning, but continuing in and through all things, in order to fulfill the future God has for all creation.  Part of what it means to pay attention to God, therefore, is to pay attention to what is going on around us.  As we stop and look (Exodus 3), or as we “observe and interact (permaculture design’s first principle), we find that the world is full of God and God’s Spirit.  We also find that God speaks to us, and sometimes in very surprising ways.

The Scriptures have been giving us that same message over and over.  I guess we shouldn’t be surprised when some people tell us they have been listening.

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!...For from

him and through him and to him are all things.   (Romans 11:33, 36)