Spring Forward Into Action

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And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

It has been a long, cold, hard winter for all of us working in the North, but the signs of spring are everywhere. The enormous mountains of snow are finally melting away and crocuses & daffodils are popping their little heads above the ground getting ready to burst forth into color. The clean, fresh air excites the nostrils with every inhale of breath. Thoughts are turning to sprucing up the backyard and getting it ready for summer enjoyment and fun in the sun.

As Mother Earth is preparing to awaken from the dark winter and birth new life, we too should awaken. Spring is as good a time as any to shake off all old thoughts and ideas that no longer serve a purposeful duty. As the Earth becomes covered in lush green grasses, the breeze moves the newly sprouted leaves on the trees, and a vibrant rainbow of colors appear in the garden beds from every flower imaginable, we too should become sheltered in thoughts and ideas that emerge from our soul so that we are inspired into action to populate our world and community with the colors of love, fluidity, and a willingness to help others.

One hue in this rainbow is the campaign Commit2Respond. It is a great program where Unitarian Universalists and other people of faith, who care about environmental justice, take action. The goal of Commit2Repsond is to create a better world by shifting to a low carbon future, advancing the human rights of affected communities, and growing the climate of the justice movement to help preserve the beauty of Mother Earth.

April was highlighted as Climate Justice Month to bring attention to and urge people into action that would make a real impact on our home planet. Each week focused on a different principle aspect with a focus on rejoicing, reckoning, reconnecting and committing work. The month will close with the celebration of Earth Day on April 22.

Commit2Respond is a program designed to encourage life-long commitment. There is tremendous work to be done to keep our living home, Mother Earth, vital and alive. I encourage you to bloom where you are planted and spring forward into action with the people around you in the world!

Sue Tabone
St. Lawrence District Administrator