The Top 5 other ways of being a better steward

Time: Take a Sabbath rest from everything you’re doing. Stop. Really. Stop. See if the world ends.

08 Oct 2009

Jolyon White, the Anglican Social Justice Commission enabler, was recently in Christchurch for the Anglican Care AGM. He offers five often forgotten ways of “caring for the things God has given us for the sake of others.”

1: Land.
We are used to thinking of the Sanctuary in our churches as sacred space. We are less inclined to think of the church section in the same way. Even less our own back yard. Yet, the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. How can we care well for these spaces for the sake of others? Plant vegetables out back, or better, veges out front where people can ‘glean.’ Vegetable gardening is the most obvious, but what other ways could we steward the land we ‘own’?

2: Relationships.
What does it mean to be a steward of the gift of connectedness – of relationships? Even the relationships we cannot see? Buying something means your story connects with the story of the shop-keeper, the person who made the product, and everyone in between. Being a consumer brings a certain power. We saw it with Cadbury and the palm oil decision. How can we best care for the poorest and most marginalised that buying stuff puts us in relationship with?

3: Home.
The fastest way to improve your ecological footprint is to take in a boarder; more people, same resources. But how else could we steward the privilege of a home to live in? There are many ways to offer hospitality; community meals are an obvious one. Or maybe fostering a child, or offering a home to adolescent sex offenders (always hard for probation to place). Or perhaps tithe the couch by planting potatoes under the cushions.

4: Time.
Ah, I would – but I’m so busy. Really busy… and important. You can tell I’m important because I’m busy. How am I? Flat tack at the moment (whew). Take a Sabbath rest from everything you’re doing. Stop. Really. Stop. See if the world ends. Rest, and reflect about busyness in our lives. Hear anew. How do we steward our time? Not to become busier; we may be too busy. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

5: Emotions:
Do I get enough sleep? Eat enough broccoli? Watch enough sunsets? Stroke enough cats? Jump barefoot in enough bouncy castles? Get enough exercise? Spiritual, physical and emotional health can’t be separated. Looking after our emotional health can be vital to not being a grumpy, cynical, sarcastic new employee in the bleak office space of the Social Justice Commission! Emotional stewardship ensures long-term community engagement, and enables us to stand ‘just’ where we are.

WORDS: JOLYON WHITE