Reading United Methodist Doctrine while on vacation...

Last week we took a short family vacation to Amicalola Falls State Park in the north Georgia mountains, near Dawsonville, GA.  We rented a cabin that backed up to the creek.  That was where morning coffee and reading took place.

creek behind cabin (Amicalola Falls creek)

 

One morning while reading the first book of six required texts for an upcoming United Methodist Theology course, United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center by Scott J. Jones, I found myself in the midst of creation reading about creation. 

Chapter 5 of the book is entitled "Creation, Sin, Law, Grace, and Repentance". 

Leading up to the part about creation, a few lines that caught my attention:

"The heart of United Methodist doctrine is saving grace, so, not surprisingly, grace is also the starting point of its anthropology." (145) 

What REALLY caught my attention is the first clause of that sentence.  It caused me to draw a heart to the side of the page, write inside the heart "saving grace" and above the heart "UM Doctrine". ☺

"God's grace is an expression of God's essential nature, which is love." (146)

Then, the author quoted from "Our Social Creed" from the Book of Discipline. 

What caught my attention here was the line: "We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind." (146, Jones; 122, Discipline)

So, there I was, sitting on the edge of the creek surrounded greenery, rushing waters, and chirping birds.  What better place to be to read this portion of the book?!?!

I could definitely affirm God's handiwork around me.  Not only at that spot, but throughout the park with the gorgeous waterfall, valley views, geological beauty, etc. 

Amicalola Falls

 

top of falls and view of valley

view of valley from East Ridge Trail

Creation has always been a connecting point for me to God, the Creator.  And, that makes sense... at least it does to me.  How can one not connect with the Creator through the creation?!?!

The author went on to remind the reader that "we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it [creation].  Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God's creation [...]" (146)

Reduce, reuse, recycle... those are words that will help all of us help creation.  Though I do some things to take care of creation, there is more I can do.  There have been books and programs in the past few years to help folks become more aware and begin to be more "green" within their families, churches, and communities. 

In case you're interested in learning more about the Green Church Initiative, here are two links below with information.  The second one includes Rebekah Simon-Peter's book/curriculum on the topic.

Links:
Green Church
Green Church by Rebekah Simon-Peter (her website)

Doctrine in its simplest meaning means "teaching".  I enjoyed the book by Scott J. Jones on the United Methodist doctrine.  I especially enjoyed the serendipity moment of being outdoors in creation to enjoy the Creator's handiwork as I read the section on creation in the book.

Enjoy some of the Creator's handiwork today!  And while you're enjoying it, look around to see what part you can do to keep it in good shape. (You may have heard the saying: "take only pictures, leave only footprints".)

Blessings on your journey,

Debra