A monthly reflection by Christie Goode (VP – Advancement)
One of the things I love about A Rocha is how it integrates caring for the environment with caring for people. Our vision statement is “transforming people and places by sharing God’s love for all of creation” – one can’t happen without the other.
The natural world around us will not flourish without the focused, knowledgeable care of people. And people themselves (ourselves) will not flourish without regular connection to the natural world. There is a reason that cities need parks, and that we all feel better after visiting them.
I recently experienced this integration in a tangible way when some of the interns and staff took five days away from the Brooksdale Environmental Centre for a retreat on Galiano Island. We worked long days to refinish two 18th-century replica wooden boats that would be used for a summer course called Technology, Wilderness and Creation. Along with the boat refinishing, we also had daily Bible teaching, and worked on teams to make all our own meals from scratch. We visited a local environmental conservancy and hiked a local ridge.
Working, studying, eating, learning, hiking. Buidling relationships as we cared for the environment. We were transformed as the land was transformed. In the process, a community is formed.
Peter Harris, the founder of A Rocha International, told the Brooksdale community last week that he has a stack of letters from people who have visited A Rocha Brooksdale, and then written to him about how they were transformed by those visits — people who are now working at or leading A Rocha projects in dozens of countries around the world. It is the integration of caring for people and place that helps a community to flourish. And a flourishing community inspires others to nurture their own community toward similar flourishing.
Integration leads to appreciation leads to transformation. What a great thing to be a part of.
