“The measure of our courage is the measure of our willingness to embrace disappointment, acknowledge the wounds it causes, and rather than retreat from further participation, keep on insisting on what is good and possible for the world. In other words, hope.”
Theologian Elizabeth Johnson shared these words as part of her presentation to the Catholic Climate Covenant gathering and we have shared her words with our sisters and associates.
She spoke of hope as a muscle of resistance. And from the faith perspective, she noted that we hope because we trust that despite the odds, the living God is with us and is faithful.
We live and act in that hope in our efforts to fulfill the goal of our Year Three Plan: Becoming conscious of the global ramifications of our daily use of plastic, we will greatly reduce the amount we purchase and use.
Sisters and Associates focused on eliminating single use plastics, substituting reusable items, purchasing products in other-than-plastic containers, refusing Styrofoam containers, and saying “No, thank you” to plastic straws.
Affirming and commending stores, restaurants, and other places of sales who are trying to operate without Styrofoam or plastics was a new and welcomed idea. It is a way to bring others into the work, along with what we are already doing with family, friends and colleagues.
The monthly LSAP notes continue to expand our knowledge and contribute to understanding the urgency and significance of the damage that plastics are doing to our planet and all life on it. We find this study invaluable.
We are strengthening our muscles of resistance.
We are living in trust with the God who walks with us.
As we keep on insisting on what is good and possible for the world, we have hope.
