Spring has Sprung

Spring has officially sprung here in Seattle ... finally. Although rumor has it we're to have some rain again later in the week. But for now it's 72 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. ALL the mountains are out ... Rainier, the Cascades and the Olympics. And I am living in paradise here at St. Mary-on-the-lake, able to soak it all in. Tonight at least. Tomorrow night and the next night I've got evening work commitments. And then the rain's supposed to come back.

So tonight I just sat in a chair overlooking our meditation garden and Lake Washington and gave thanks for God's wonderful creation.

Speaking of creation ... it's the week of Earth Day and the US Bishops have just launched their new Catholic Climate Covenant Website. Why not head over and take a look. You can even take the St. Francis Pledge:

All across our country, Catholics are taking the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor and joining the Catholic Climate Covenant. The St. Francis Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, parishes, organizations and institutions to live our faith by protecting God’s Creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the harshest impacts of global climate change. To join the Covenant, you commit to act on each of the five elements of the St. Francis Pledge.

I/We Pledge to:

• PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
• LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
• ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
• ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
• ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.