-By Hella Tangu*
Text: Psalms 104: 5 -13 5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. 6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; 8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. 9 You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. 10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. 11 They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
Reflection: Water is essential for life, sustaining us at home, at work, and in growing our food. Without it, we could not survive. As in the scripture, God created the rivers and lakes that populate the earth, weaving intricately through varied landscapes and supporting life. Water, like everything else God created, is a gift. Yet with every gift comes responsibility—God has entrusted us with the care of His creation, calling us to be faithful stewards of the earth. Water as we know it—flowing in rivers, streams, and in rain—is not all that exists. There are also waters we often overlook, frozen in glaciers, quietly sustaining life for millions. In fact 69% of earth’s freshwater is frozen, 30% is below the ground, and less than 1% present in all the rivers and lakes of the world. These frozen waters are melting at an alarming rate, yet they provide both small and big joys that often go unnoticed. And they are even closer than we think, supplying mountain rivers and lakes, providing flow to freshwater springs in the wilderness. I come from a country that is crossed by the Equator, and with its tropical climate all year round, it may come as a shock to many that we too have glaciers. Mt Rwenzori in Uganda, standing at an astonishing 5,100 metres, was once home to snowcapped peaks, but has lost almost 80% of its glaciers since 1906. This is due to the high temperatures that are causing more damage to glaciers along the Equator than in other places of the world. The ice waters that once fed the springs and ponds along the mountain are dwindling, and with them so are the unique animals and vegetation. As humans, we assume water is unlimited because it covers so much of the earth. The scripture from Psalms shows us that God is the source of all the nature we get to enjoy, but just as He has given it to us, so can He take it away. We have failed to care for it. The past few years have had several disasters such as floods, wildfires, rising pollution, and depletion of natural resources at an all-time high, which can be attributed to human activities. A sign of how as humans, we tend to put our own needs and wants above responsibilities given to us by God. Glaciers act as God-given storage, melting slowly to sustain life, but rising temperatures are accelerating their loss, leading to devastating consequences like sea-level rise and coastal flooding. We have been entrusted with this precious water resource but through pollution from industry, unsustainable agriculture, and uncontrolled use, we are depleting fresh water we have. This loss is a warning, reminding us that our neglect of God’s creation has consequences. This reminds us that caring for creation is not optional; it is part of our God-given purpose. Too often, we read the Bible, reflect on its wisdom, but stop there—leaving it on the pages instead of carrying it into our daily lives. I know I have been guilty of this. As a young Christian growing in my faith, and also a student of climate change and global warming, this topic especially stands out to me. We must move away from an individual approach to so called development that causes us to only think of how much we need, and not how others will be affected if we take more than necessary from the nature. As followers of Christ, we are called not only to reflect on His teachings but to live them out daily. Stewardship is not an option; it is our responsibility. I hope that during this Lenten period, I as well as anyone reading this, may take a moment to think about what you are doing or helping your community do to preserve these frozen treasures. Are we doing enough for our brothers and sisters?
Prayer Lord, we thank You for the sacred gift of water, from the rushing rivers to the quiet glaciers that store life for generations to come. Forgive us for neglecting our responsibility as stewards of Your creation. As we witness the changes in our world, open our hearts to act with wisdom, urgency, and faith. Help us to protect the waters You have given us, so that all may drink freely and abundantly, today and always. Amen.
Questions
- How can we shift our mindset from seeing water as an unlimited commodity to recognizing it as a gift to be protected?
- What kind of future do I want myself and my community to have, vis-à-vis water?
Actions
- Reduce water waste – Be mindful of your daily consumption, e.g. take shorter showers.
- Find out about glaciers, that are close to you and how they have changed over the past few years.
Resources
The Biblical Call to Environmental Stewardship Link to Article Climate 101: Glaciers https://youtu.be/WJgpDyP9ewQ?si=rvAiM1R2gpSdY8hT Our Planet, Frozen Worlds https://youtu.be/cTQ3Ko9ZKg8?si=98iey5bnG8m8rwx4
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