Dr. Zac Varghese: Every Cloud has a Silver Lining, Reconciliation and

matter too. This is where ‘Education for Sustainable Development (ESD]’ and ‘Spirituality’ matter most. People with right trends of the traits are ‘environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially relevant. Here lies the beauty that adorns this book and the sustainability paradigm that we craft.”

Metropolitan, Rt. Revd Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma, in his foreword quoted from the storyline of the book (a very special and helpful feature of the book): “the premise is that, abundant fragrance emanates from those who live a sustainable life-style” and Thirumeni further wrote, “I capture the biblical connection here. Our faith must be deeper and life-style more accommodating in a broader sense that we begin to send out fragrance in abundance. The question is, do we have that kind of faith and regard for His creation? Paul had; as he wrote to the Corinthians, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ in abundance among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing’’(2 Corinthians 2: 15-16); he meant if we choose to live a life loving others, look after the environment and manage matters in accordance with the principles of good governance, then we give out fragrance in abundance, while those who perish choose short term pleasures devoid of any aroma.”

The book is conveniently divided into four sections, an initial section and then into sections A, B and C. The authors summarise the contents of this the following way, which is very helpful for the readers to dip in. “The order is, thus: Initial section (author profile, The Mar Thoma Metropolitan’s Message, storyline, preface, content, acknowledgement etc.); Section A. Introduction, understanding Sustainability, (8 chapters) focusing mainly on the current situation (State) and the challenges it creates (Pressure). Section B. This contains 32 Bible based chapters that provide the fragrance of faith, and the abundant measure in which we receive it from God. Here we meet patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets, disciples, Jesus Christ and ordinary people. Section C. In this section (10 chapters), we revisit Sustainability, having known how our knowledge and skills are used in this pursuit. Equally important is how our faith perspectives, value systems and attitude influence us, as we go in for action – the (Response). Action usually is in the form of projects – small and big. Project management begins to feature prominently at this stage involving individual (people, family), institutional (groups, parish churches), and systemic (strategy, work plans, finance, resources, buildings, gadgets etc.); all these are promoted by the wider Church (Sabha), or others as appropriate. There is also Bibliography and relevant Appendices. This book is aimed at all who are interested in the fundamentals of Sustainability within the context of Christian Life.”

The section A is designed to help readers familiarize the concept of Sustainability as a new paradigm of growth, and Sustainable Development (SD) as its pathway. In this section they say: “Earth and Faith combined is a new mission field where the harvest is ready and the workers are few”. Sustainable Development is not an oxymoron, as there are things to be sustained and others to be developed. It appears that we are sleep walking into the perils of business-as-usual life, despite all the warnings on the signposts in front of us.

Section B has 32 Bible-based chapters that provide the fragrance of faith, and the abundant measure, which we receive from God. This section reveals how through even wilderness experiences where we are led by God during day and night, we learn to walk in the permanent light of the one who is “the Light of the World (John 8:12). This Lord had to suffer all the way to the cross to redeem us. In this love lies the attraction of the cross that invited Paul, consolidated the disciples and all the believers up to us. It is this love that makes the church an agent of change for many with all our frailties. The women of the Bible, Daniel, the prophets, the modern-day champions of ecumenism and interfaith are examples, though like Elijah they are also stressed but blessed, as long as we are just, kind and humble (Micah 6:8).

In section C, the authors revisit Sustainability, having known how our knowledge and skills are used in this pursuit, and equally important is how their faith perspectives, value systems and attitude influence us, they go in for action – the (Response, of SPR). Action usually is in the form of projects – small and big. Project management begins to feature prominently at this stage. In this section the authors, give real examples of projects that worked in real life, and by referring to UNEP’s (United Nations Environmental Programme) publication on Green Growth. Then in conclusion the Authors imagine to be dreaming with 11 “What if’’ situations where humanity discovered viable solutions for existing SD problems, then we will not merely be dreaming of being smart, we’ll indeed be living smarter.

It is important to realize that the major religions own around seven percent of the habitable surface of this good God-given earth. Therefore, faith communities have a major responsibility as stewards of ‘the whole inhabited earth’, oikoumene. Various environmental activists have been telling us over the last few years that our living planet is slowly being diminished, polluted, over populated and built over or at the edge of total destruction. It is increasingly clear that human activity has assisted in global warming and other ecological issues. The authors of this book guide us, opening up ideas and possibilities with a Christian perspective.

It is with great pleasure I recommend this book to you and pray that you benefit from its detailed content that will make a difference in your life and to the environment.

Dr. Zac Varghese, London