Acknowledging the ugly.
It’s right there, staring us down, this belligerent and seemingly unstoppable climate crisis. Its aggressive hostilities increasingly wreak havoc with God’s creation with impunity.
Recognizing the bad.
It doesn’t seem to matter how much the planet and its inhabitants swelter in oppressive heat, that our life support systems are rapidly deteriorating, that glaciers are melting away, that the oceans are becoming more acidic, that forests are being clear-cut or burning out of control, or that biodiversity is in drastic decline. It doesn’t seem to trouble others that our air is becoming increasingly toxic, that there are more violent and destructive storms, and that there is flooding and severe drought. There are those who don’t worry that millions of people are forced to migrate in search of relief and that acute hunger and suffering are intensifying everywhere. Why else would we allow things to remain the way they are in this mind-blowing ‘Climate Silence’ where business just continues as usual? Are we stuck with a doomerism that comes from political frustration and from believing that people who have power are just happy to burn the world down?
Embracing the good.
I can’t be the only one who feels it—righteous anger at the way things are. Anger pushes us out of complacency. We need to shout, “Enough!” Together we must confront this climate crisis with spiritual audacity and bold action. Yes, we can try to elect and then support politicians who might forge a path toward the transformation of the world, but we can’t leave it up to them.
First, and foremost, we must transform ourselves by being faithful to God, faithful to Christ, and faithful to the Gospel that is calling all of us beyond ourselves. We must fall in love with our planet and do everything possible to protect and sustain it. We need people who have a bigger vision and who choose to live life another way—people who are ready to live with positive belief and who are not only clear about what they are against, but what they are for. “I can see a bold new path led by a vision of the sacred goodness of humankind and the abundance of the planet’s resources … You and I are the ones we’ve been waiting for to create better lives for ourselves and our communities and to build a better world—together. All we need is the courage to imagine, and the will to make it be so.” (Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, 2025).
Connecting with God’s creation.
“Spending time in nature increases happiness, adds a sense of meaning to life and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Devoting just two hours a week in nature has been linked to better mood, focus, and mental health.” (Toronto Star, June 21, 2025). Be inspired by those things that bring you joy and then work to nurture them. Be more engaged. Take a stand and become a stronger advocate for our planet. Become a ‘Holy Disruptor’ (Pastor Janelle Bruce) if you must, to walk in the radical nature of Christ. Resist fossil fuel consumption. Perhaps invest in solar panels and a heat pump. From May to mid-July, I kept 1,320 kg of CO2 emissions out of the atmosphere—the equivalent of planting 40 trees.
Instead of being bitter, you could be living more simply, in harmony with creation. Perchance you’ll even find yourself whistling an old tune, “Live, love, laugh and be happy.” (from ‘When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along’, Harry Woods, 1926).
Gary Bowren is a member of Climate Justice Niagara. For Resources and Information visit https://niagaraanglican.ca/climatejustice/partners-and-resources
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly or, Why I Bought a Heat Pump
Acknowledging the ugly.
It’s right there, staring us down, this belligerent and seemingly unstoppable climate crisis. Its aggressive hostilities increasingly wreak havoc with God’s creation with impunity.
Recognizing the bad.
It doesn’t seem to matter how much the planet and its inhabitants swelter in oppressive heat, that our life support systems are rapidly deteriorating, that glaciers are melting away, that the oceans are becoming more acidic, that forests are being clear-cut or burning out of control, or that biodiversity is in drastic decline. It doesn’t seem to trouble others that our air is becoming increasingly toxic, that there are more violent and destructive storms, and that there is flooding and severe drought. There are those who don’t worry that millions of people are forced to migrate in search of relief and that acute hunger and suffering are intensifying everywhere. Why else would we allow things to remain the way they are in this mind-blowing ‘Climate Silence’ where business just continues as usual? Are we stuck with a doomerism that comes from political frustration and from believing that people who have power are just happy to burn the world down?
Embracing the good.
I can’t be the only one who feels it—righteous anger at the way things are. Anger pushes us out of complacency. We need to shout, “Enough!” Together we must confront this climate crisis with spiritual audacity and bold action. Yes, we can try to elect and then support politicians who might forge a path toward the transformation of the world, but we can’t leave it up to them.
First, and foremost, we must transform ourselves by being faithful to God, faithful to Christ, and faithful to the Gospel that is calling all of us beyond ourselves. We must fall in love with our planet and do everything possible to protect and sustain it. We need people who have a bigger vision and who choose to live life another way—people who are ready to live with positive belief and who are not only clear about what they are against, but what they are for. “I can see a bold new path led by a vision of the sacred goodness of humankind and the abundance of the planet’s resources … You and I are the ones we’ve been waiting for to create better lives for ourselves and our communities and to build a better world—together. All we need is the courage to imagine, and the will to make it be so.” (Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, 2025).
Connecting with God’s creation.
“Spending time in nature increases happiness, adds a sense of meaning to life and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Devoting just two hours a week in nature has been linked to better mood, focus, and mental health.” (Toronto Star, June 21, 2025). Be inspired by those things that bring you joy and then work to nurture them. Be more engaged. Take a stand and become a stronger advocate for our planet. Become a ‘Holy Disruptor’ (Pastor Janelle Bruce) if you must, to walk in the radical nature of Christ. Resist fossil fuel consumption. Perhaps invest in solar panels and a heat pump. From May to mid-July, I kept 1,320 kg of CO2 emissions out of the atmosphere—the equivalent of planting 40 trees.
Instead of being bitter, you could be living more simply, in harmony with creation. Perchance you’ll even find yourself whistling an old tune, “Live, love, laugh and be happy.” (from ‘When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along’, Harry Woods, 1926).
Gary Bowren is a member of Climate Justice Niagara. For Resources and Information visit https://niagaraanglican.ca/climatejustice/partners-and-resources
Keep on reading
Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord
The Untold Stories of Women in Church Leadership: Bearing Witness to God’s Work
Sharing Christ’s Love at McMaster: Ecumenical Chaplaincy
A New Archbishop for Wales Met with Both Love and Resistance.
Ecumenical Chaplaincy at Brock University
Draw the (Ministry) Circle Wider