Preface

e Preface

A Deep Gaze Into Sustainability From Jordan “Sunny” Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm, Kansas City, MO

Go outside. Kneel and pinch a piece of the soil into the palm of your hand. Gaze deeply in awe and amazement as to how the entire universe, yourself included, is built of these same elements crumbling between your fingers. All around us the world is crumbling into more fragmented pieces, fueled by the illusion of separation between its many parts. The root to the stalk of sustainability is recognizing our interconnectedness to all of creation.

In preparation for addressing students at the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series I had a standard bag of devastating environmental statistics and stories of separation in mind. Fortunately, instead of leading with fear-based statistics, my heart led the way with a message about the importance of rediscovering our connections to all parts of this earth. I want to thank Avila University for the invitation to “stand in” and speak about the necessity of sustainability in place of those who cannot speak for themselves: the trees, the rivers, the soil which we walk upon, the climate refugees, the generations yet to come. The generations that will question why those who came before them didn’t care to create a sustainable way of life. In his book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba uses his creativity to build a wind turbine, creating a future for his community. He mentions often in the book that he was inspired to create change out of deep love for his family and friends. Creating a sustainable future for his community was never a choice, he saw it as a necessity. It is important to recognize that if you are connected to anyone, then caring for creation should be one of your greatest concerns. You can be a doctor and heal people, a social worker and help people, a teacher and inspire people; while valuable, all these actions are jeopardized if we continue to neglect our Mother Earth. Pope Francis said, “the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor: she groans in travail” (Ladauto Si, 2). Let us seek to heal her wounds, help her flourish abundantly, may we teach our future generations of her needs, and hold her in our hands gazing deeper into our interdependence with her.