News From the Valley

A way to stay up to date with Jamie's work with A Rocha in the Pembina Valley 

[jamiearocha]

Knowing God in the Seasons

There are many ways we can connect with and learn from God through nature. I’ve found that being aware of the changing seasons has helped me connect with God and live a spiritual life. However, the feelings of autumn are contradicting for me. Spring is straightforward; it has a rejuvenating energy of resurrection. Summer is an explosion of activity and life. Winter is a long wait. But the fall is complex in its meaning.

On one hand, autumn reminds us to rest. The trees are going dormant and the garden has slowed down. Many birds have moved back south and the bugs have mostly disappeared. After working hard to drink every last drop of summer while it lasts, I’m tempted to sit back and let out a long sigh when the signs of autumn show. In the same way that the Sabbath comes at the end of our week, the fall is the end of the summer and a good time to rest after all the work of summer is done.

But on the other hand, autumn reminds us to be active. Soon it is going to snow and if we’re not prepared for the long, often harsh, winter we’ll be sorry. The animals are working hard to store up enough food and fat to last through the winter. Alsno, now that the garden has given all it can, we’re busy processing and preserving its fruits. I’m reminded that this harvest is more than just literal and of Jesus’ statement in John 4, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

On the topic of transitioning seasons, I’ve always felt that autumn is a more natural time for reflecting than the new year. Yes, there is the fact that it tends to be where we get back to our standard routines. However, because it is also the end of summer, which is generally accepted to be a fairly great time, I feel a sense of sadness and an inclination to think back on the previous year before getting into the upcoming winter.

These are the feelings and lessons that fall has left me thinking about this year. I’d love to hear the lessons and feelings you’ve experienced in the fall.

[jamiearocha]

The Earth is the Lord’s (and everything in it)

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Psalm 24:1

I spent some time pondering this verse on a recent bike ride. It’s an important verse in the conversation around creation care because it helps to reorient our perspectives on the place of humans in creation. The standard, modern understanding of Genesis 1:28 (fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.) has often led Christians to assume the Earth belongs to humans and that we can do to it whatever we want. This verse challenges that assumption and encourages us to think more deeply on what it means to ‘subdue’ and ‘rule over’ the Earth.

Here is the result of my pondering, taking time to rest on the significance of each piece:

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

The Earth - it is singular, unique and it is specifically the Lord’s.

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

The Earth presently belongs to the Lord, who continues to be an active participant in its systems, concerns, and redemption.

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

The Earth is the Lord’s, not belonging to humans, but trusted to us all the same. It belongs to the one who created it and continues to care for it.

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

The Earth and everything - all the people, plants, fungi, animals, insects, bacteria, landscapes, ecosystems and communities - in it belong to God.

The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.

We, and everything on Earth, are in the earth, connected through relationships of mutual dependence. Even more, our ‘Earthiness’ and this relationship of dependence is intended by God.

I’d love to hear any thoughts you have on this verse and how it connects to conversations on creation care. How does it fit with the rest of the psalm?

Here is the Psalm in its entirety:

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.    The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas    and built it on the ocean depths.

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?    Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,    who do not worship idols    and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing    and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you    and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

Open up, ancient gates!    Open up, ancient doors,    and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory?    The Lord, strong and mighty;    the Lord, invincible in battle. Open up, ancient gates!    Open up, ancient doors,    and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory?    The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—    he is the King of glory.

[jamiearocha]

Hiking with your senses

Until recently I have always thought of hiking as a fitness activity. The goal was to walk as far as possible as quickly as possible and I valued the landscape primarily for the difficulty it added to the hike. I would spend the majority of each hike looking at my feet to make sure I wasn’t tripping on a root, rock or uneven trail. I wanted to feel like I was conquering and overcoming a landmass.

There’s nothing wrong with having a fitness mindset when hiking. However, I’ve been realizing there are other ways to think about hiking.

In recent years exploration has become a more prominent goal in my hiking trips. Part of this comes from having started working at an ‘Interpretive Centre’ where we treat nature hikes like a round of show-and-tell. Now when I hike I have a strong desire to differentiate and know the names of the various trees, I keep my eyes open for unfamiliar plants, I listen for birds, I take all the detours, I even read the informational plaques.

I also try to make use of all my senses when I’m hiking. With a group of children during our most recent Creation Kids Camp we encouraged them to smell prairie sage and the berries on juniper bushes; to touch the mosses on the trees and the pokey hazelnut husks (some also touched the stinging nettle against our warnings); to see full views of the valley and the detailed intricacies of leaves on trees; and to taste the spicy leaves of the wild bergamot and the sour buffalo berries. Listening was a little tougher with such a chatty group but we were able to catch some of the louder bird calls and we took a moment to notice the lack of traffic noises.

Hiking is a great activity and is often worthwhile even when it is limited to walking and looking. But the experience is much richer when you take time to feel, smell, listen and even taste, if you know what is safe.

My wife and I recently hiked the Pine Point Trail in the Whiteshell, which I had hiked often as a child. I was surprised by how much of the trail I remembered. I think the reason the hike has stuck so strongly in my memory is because it was always such a multi-sensory experience. We would spend time listening to the roaring water, I would hike barefoot on the exposed rock, we’d slide down the smooth, rocky rapids in the cool water, we’d snack on tart blueberries, get bitten by horseflies, look out over cliffs and climb on rocks.

If you’ve never tried hiking with exploration in mind, give it a shot. It is a very different experience from hiking for fitness. While I still love the thrill of a challenging hike, the thrill of discovery and learning has proven to be just as satisfying.

While I’ve presented fitness and exploration as the two ways to approach a hike, I know there are other reasons to spend time on the trails. I’d love to hear what motivates you to get out! Lately I have also been thinking about hiking as spiritual discipline - but that’s a topic for a later blog.

[jamiearocha]

Recognizing Birds & Trees

I sometimes find it challenging to notice the nature around me; in the highly manicured town I live in, it’s hard to remember that trees are still trees and birds are still birds. This is elevated by the fact that I haven’t learned to identify most types of birds and trees.  

In February we held a Nature Talk in Morden about Project Feederwatch, which is a program where participants contribute to conservation work by counting the birds around their feeders periodically throughout the winter and reporting these numbers to Cornell University.

Julia Barkley, who presented on Feederwatch, told us about how she appreciates the opportunity the project gives her to slow down and look out the window. In doing so she has noticed a lot that she wouldn’t have otherwise. She has made rare sightings such as a baby deer on the edge of her yard, a one legged turkey and a grey horned owl. She’s also been able to notice the quirks and behaviour of different birds - the chickadees quickly grab their food and fly away, the wrens sing complex songs.

Lately I’ve been learning about trees. And now I find that when I’m walking down the street I try to identify the different trees growing on the boulevards. Since it’s March, they have no leaves, which makes the task more difficult. However, there are other ways to identify trees: the color and type of bark, the shape and structure of the branches and twigs, the types of seeds or fruit still clinging to them.

It is exciting to notice these small details and I find that I have been appreciating the oaks, poplars and ashes much more now that I can begin to recognize them. 

[jamiearocha]

Germinating Conversations: Faith and our relationship with the land

If we think of all land as holy ground, how should our relationship to land change?

Last week, a diverse group of Christians made up of farmers (big and small), conservationists and land developers met in the basement of Carman Mennonite Church to try and answer this question.

Many of the speakers encouraged us to remember the ways in which the experience of nature has worked its way into our memories and souls and the way the smells, tastes, feelings, sounds and sights of nature can fill us with comfort, excitement, and peace. Bethany Petkau told us about her favourite place growing up, a cherry tree in her grandparents' back yard, and her memories of playing in and around the tree.

Others talked about interacting with the land in a way that is mutually life-giving. Abe Bergan, a land developer, explained that when he alters the land he tries to work with the land's natural processes. For example, he used the natural drainage and water collection features in an area he recently developed.

While many presenters expressed discomfort with larger-scale agriculture, Ron Krahn reminded us that all farmers are interested in keeping their soil healthy. He explained that he takes time to do soil testing and makes sure he is able to replace all of the nutrients that are removed from the soil while farming.

Another recurring theme was the idea of ruralization - an alternative to the trend of urbanization in our communities and our imaginations. Will Braun was concerned about the loneliness of the land. He suggested that as people continue to leave the land, the care of that land is left to fewer people and each section may not receive the attention it needs. Kaylin Spain asked how we could support people in becoming farmers and encourage a culture that values rural spaces and vocations.

The question of land ownership was also common. Marg Remple taught us that perspective has influence and helped us to see that the land has many owners - many already dead and some currently alive, but most are yet to be born. Ron Krahn told us that owning land helps create stability and predictability for farmers but reminded us also that land ownership comes with responsibility.

This was the latest gathering in the Germinating Conversations series, a project attempting to bridge the urban-rural divide through conversations on the relationship between faith, land, eating and growing. The next event in the Germinating Conversations series will feature a lecture by CMU's scientist-in-residence on how science informs discussions on cultivating healthy land.

[jamiearocha]

Support Letter

Hello friends and family!

I hope this fall season is finding you well! I’m writing to tell you about some exciting changes in my life. As some of you may know, I have just taken a position with A Rocha Canada in the Pembina Valley. A Rocha is a Christian environmental conservation organization with centres all over the world. A Rocha is a welcoming community that works to show God's love for creation through education and hands-on conservation projects. A Rocha staff are committed to God, humanity and the wider creation.

Specifically, I will be working with A Rocha's Pembina Valley Interpretive Centre (PVIC). Its beauty and biodiversity make it the perfect place for people to increase their understanding and enjoyment of the natural world and to discover their place within it. The centre aims to enable discovery and learning, to be a place of emotional and spiritual refreshment and to initiate conservation and restoration projects. Examples of the PVIC’s activities are providing ecosystem education to school groups, monitoring migrating raptors, and hosting groups and individuals to enjoy the valley.

I will be working as the Assistant Director of the PVIC. My responsibilities will be to coordinate events in the Winkler and Morden area, work with schools to give them opportunities for hands-on environmental education in the Pembina Valley, write grants, assist with activities at the centre and network with local organizations and communities.

I am very excited to be involved with A Rocha. I spent many summers in the Pembina Valley while volunteering with Pembina Valley Bible Camp and it is a place of deep significance to me. I also look forward to learning to participate positively in caring for the world, recognizing that our physical needs and many of our cultural, emotional and spiritual needs are met by God through the created world.

I would like to invite you to join me in this work! I am looking for people to partner with me financially. I would like to raise $750 per month, which will make up 50% of my total salary. Regardless of whether you can give financially, I would also like to invite you to become involved by participating in A Rocha events, visiting the centre, talking with me about A Rocha, environmental conservation and faith, or signing up to receive quarterly updates and information on upcoming events. And of course I would greatly appreciate your prayers!

If you would like to donate to support my work with A Rocha, you can do so in one of two ways:

You can donate online through Chimp.net. After you create an account (Which literally takes a minute) you just have to type “A Rocha Canada” into the search box then hit the “Give money to this charity” button. Just make sure to write “To support Jamie Fox” in the “Include a Message” section.

If you would like to give through the mail, you can ask me for a donor card, which you can use to send cheques, pay by credit card, or to arrange a pre-authorized bank debit.  

If you would like to be added to my quarterly newsletter update and to receive information on upcoming events, please email me at [email protected].

For more information on A Rocha and the Pembina Valley Interpretive Centre, please visit our website: http://www.arocha.ca/

Thank you for your support!

Jamie