Prayer
For the expanding grandeur of creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations: We give thanks this day.
For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons: We give thanks this day.
For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements: We give thanks this day.
For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression: We give thanks this day.
For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared: We give thanks this day.
For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom: We give thanks this day.
For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose: We give thanks this day.
We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.
We give thanks this day.
O. Eugene Pickett
Knowledge
This week, I share with you 6 ways to make your Thanksgiving plastic free courtesy of Beyond Plastics.
- Cook from scratch – this is a tall order for some folks. But, cooking from scratch eliminates plastic packaging.
- Shop local – shopping local not only reduces your carbon footprint, but finding a local farmer’s market means supporting small business. You can buy items in bulk and bring your own container. Check out a local bakery for your desserts.
- Use sustainable décor - look around the yard, or the farmer’s market for great decorations
- Use real dishes – go on, get out grandma’s china dishes. Single use plastic tableware is convenient, but destructive.
- Send leftovers home in reusable containers – self-explanatory, that one!
The mission of Beyond Plastics is to help everyone understand that recycling most plastics is not only unhelpful, but only exists to make us feel better about using it. We will never recycle our way out of the problem of plastic. Their website has a lot of information on how you can endeavor to live plastic free.
Action
I invite you to do a deep dive into the Beyond Plastics website. Work plastic out of your life as much as possible. And help to change the systems by advocating with companies to go plastic free.
One last thought, next week, as you gather with your family, give thanks for all the people who had a part in bringing the food to your table: farmers, pickers, processors, drivers, grocery store employees and the ones who cooked all day.