Climate Anxiety / Christian Stewardship

 One of my favorite quotes is by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

Climate change is an anxiety creating problem. There are many ways to deal with it. Here are three.

The first is outright denial. If a person denies it is happening there is no challenge, no anxiety. This is a popular mode of coping which only requires one to disregard reality. The downside of this is reality always wins.

The second is another form of denial which goes like this. “Yes, I know climate change is real but there is nothing I can do.” Many people fall into this category. For me, this would be a special kind of hell. Death is the only reality I must submit to, so I reject this option.

The third option is to accept the fact climate change is happening and, while we will not live long enough to see it tamed, we can make a difference for the next generation right now. And, I might add, we can responsibly enjoy life to the fullest simultaneously.

Natural disasters are flooding the news daily. The number of severe weather events is going to increase. All national science and international climate projections about future weather are grim…but not entirely. Every climate report, while frightening, also leaves us hope. Hope, though, only if we act.  Here are a few things we can do.

We can insulate our homes. This way we burn less fossil fuels and use less electricity all the while saving money.

LED bulbs are a no-brainer. They are fine to read by, last much longer, and cost little to operate. If you haven’t it is time to change.  Also, rechargeable batteries for your flashlights cost less and keep batteries out of landfills.

We can cut back on our consumption of meat and dairy, especially beef.  Leaning on fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts is much easier on mother earth and is proven better for us anyhow. There are plenty of people needlessly dying of heart attacks. And, even if one survives a heart attack, bypass surgery is expensive. While this surgery is usually paid for by insurance, these costs are added to the massive medical insurance premiums we all pay for.

When buying a car today, electric vehicles are usually the best choice. Additionally, we can choose to walk or bicycle when practical. Getting around in these ways burns no fossil fuels. Walking and biking keeps one’s heart, muscles, and brain healthy. These are a sure way to keep the pounds off, so you still fit into those slim jeans.

Planning trips which do not, or minimally, rely on air travel make a difference. And, if you must fly, buy carbon offsets.

As a community we can encourage renewable energy infrastructure by using public buildings and brownfields to locate solar and wind farms. These projects, plus battery backup, will be invaluable base-line emergency energy sources when the storms of the future cut us off from distant power sources.

Communities can collectively hire professional energy auditors to inspect our structures, finding ways to make our government buildings, city businesses, and our homes energy efficient.

When buying new buses, schools and community transport organizations, should buy battery powered buses.  Buses travel short distances and have long periods of idle time. They can be recharged easily making them a perfect fit for hauling riders in the cleanest way. They also require less maintenance.

To encourage macro-changes, one only needs to call, e-mail, or write their state and national elected representatives. Tell them to direct their focus on getting us out of the climate emergency. Search Citizens Climate Lobby, they make this easy.

And finally talk about it. I have climate heroes. On top of the list is Katharine Hayhoe. She is an accomplished climate scientist, charismatic communicator, and an evangelical Christian from Lubbock, Texas. On March 21st, 2011 Katharine and her evangelical pastor/husband published their first book, “A

Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based

Decisions”. Despite floods of hate mail and threats, she has energetically and wholeheartedly continued her work without malice for those who attacked her. On September 21st , 2021, her second book on climate is being released. The Scientific American enthusiastically recommends it and the book is the #1 Amazon new release. I have scheduled it for download on my Kindle. Amazon classifies her book, “Saving Us” under the category, “Christian Stewardship”.  

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