post-post, class date: 11/30/11; written date: 12/4/11

The painting I created in class was supposed to represent man's hand in the world and how destructive it has the potential to be. I do believe it to be our goal to be good stewards of the earth and tend to what God has called "good," but I also think we are either ignorant, selfish, or both, and care first for not only our own needs, but our greedy pleasures, and will therefore satisfy them before anything else. Teaming together, man could do outstanding things for the care of the earth- not saying I believe humans are the cause of everything wrong and that if we all pitched in all environmental problems would cease, but I do wholly believe that we play a large role and could sure make an exceptionally positive difference- but we also have the power, as we've seen time and time again, to shamelessly destroy the earth and her resources. It's about coming to terms with our calling as stewards, and then exercising what that word entails.

pre-post, class date: 11/30/11; written date: 11/28/11

At the meeting in the gymnasium in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, the unity of the people there is what cought my attention the most. As the BP representative was throwing words together in a mush, the audience understood exactly what incorrect facts he was trying to wrap up and hand to them, so they spoke up for themselves and their opinions, letting the representatives know that they did not want to hear anymore and that they did not trust them. It was then described that there was a loud cheer from the crowd as though the local football team had just scored a touchdown. That kind of unity is an example of what every town, state, and ultimately nation needs- it's just a shame that it usually takes a severe tragedy to bring such unity out of us. In the article by Naomi Klein, she opened our eyes to what is essential- broadening our perspective of how different ecosystems other than the gulf itself- in this case, a marsh- was so horrifically poisoned.

I found the article by G. Reid Doster to be uplifting in the most necessary of ways. It was written in truth and so calmly, and should be necessary ready for anyone who has or will fall victim of a technological disaster- which is essentially all of us. In Richard Olson's article, I adore how he engaged in "real talk" with us. Not only is he speaking on the entire audiences level, but he's not being overly dramatic or negative. He's speaking the raw truth, but also not trying to cripple us with fear; he address the positive sides as well, which I believe is so vital for several reasons. In his own words, "I write in a grim and sober time, but the future is by no means hopeless."

post- post, class date: 11/16/11; written date: 11/17/11

During high school, there were two consecutive summers that I traveled to Lakeland with my youth group for a missions trip. These trips are what really opened my eyes and established my belief that missions are just as vital here, in our own backyards, as they are over seas. Stemming from that experience of being in run-down neighborhoods, and seeing that we have a handful of neighborhoods like that surrounding this very campus, I think it'd be a neat idea to go through these neighborhoods and clean up- all the while getting to talk with the inhabitants just to learn about them and their lives, love them with our listening, see if there is any way that we can also love them with our giving, etc. I think it's a great plan to start by cleaning up the trash to help the environment, but if we could get the people that live there involved as well, it would make that much more of a difference- for the planet, bit by bit, but also for each soul involved.

pre-post, class date: 11/16/11; written date: 11/15/11

Lightly, carefully, gracefully

Directly upon reading this title of the chapter and flowing over to the read itself, I couldn't help but think about how even the gentle breeze of the Lord is still the most powerful thing. Which led me to a separate, similar quote that holds weight in all areas of our life, including how we treat the earth- "It's the little things we do that mean anything." I love how Majora Carter regarded the point she was trying to make clear as us "actually believing we have the audacity to change the world." This is so true, and I don't understand how long it will take us to understand that we don't need to start an environmentalist campaign or protest or anything so large scale in order to make differences. Surely these types of things hold their weight and make waves, but we truly need only to be faithful in the little things.. which have no option but to spill over into bigger things as time progresses.

What moved me most about this week's reading and the video was a singular sentence that came out of Majora Carter's mouth. I, personally, find people's struggles more moving than the environment's struggles- though they both hold their own weight, my interest and investment lies first in other people. So, with that, occasionally I have trouble with our reading- thinking it to be droning on and on about essentially the same thing that we keep filling our brains with but not doing anything about. But, what latched onto my heart was when, in the midst of her bold speech regarding all we still need to do, Majora made it personal.. referencing where she came from and how much more of her story there is and then she said the words, "Don't waste me." Now, that alone would make someone like me get off my rear end and move. That puts it into an even heavier playing ground, because not only is it simply about the care of the earth at this point, but it's now about the care of another human's feelings. It creates a whole new perspective.

She ended the video with a simple truth that most of us have yet to latch onto,

"we have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

pre-post, class date: 11/9/11; written date: 11/9/11

I did not read this weeks reading and have thus reaped the consequences for my actions.

pre-post, written date: 11/02/11; class date: 11/02/11

I wasn't too interested in the reading and don't quite care for much of anything science fiction. But, as we were discussing it in class, I could see some positives. Such as- Ursula K. Le Guin is phenomenally creative for being able to construct such a novel. And some of her sentences were gorgeous, and I liked how some parts of the descriptions or dialogue were slightly crude. But, I just wouldn't ever choose to sit and read this story on my own free will, so it was rather difficult for me to focus in on it.

post- post, class date: 10/26/11; written date: 10/29/11