A Prayer to Tread Lightly
Each week, after I write the main post, a few days later, I send an accompanying prayer related to the topic. I am doing in this in part for me: I always am on the hunt for more written prayers. I use written prayers often in my work to pray for larger groups, but I also love written prayers for my personal piety. Sometimes it is nice when I do not have the words to use someone else’s.
The below prayer is in response to my post on reducing my carbon footprint.
God of Creation, God of trees, mountains, birds, oceans, creepy crawly things, and dirt,
Help me see the beauty of the Earth each day.
More than that, help me not take it for granted.
May I buy less, consume less, take less, and leave less behind.
May I leave this place a little better than I found it.
May I perceive your craftsmanship and creativity in the ordinary—but actually, really, aren’t they extraordinary?—parts of creation I encounter as I go about my day.
May I tread lightly on this place, so that there is plenty of room for others. Amen.
Actually practical and reasonable things I do to reduce my carbon footprint
On Wednesday evening, when we take out trash and recycling bins to the curb, my stomach usually sinks a bit. Our trash can is never very full, but our recycling bins are overflowing with plastic clamshells that once held berries and mixed salad greens and stacks of broken down cardboard from our copious packages.