I Make an Impact

I have been reminded how I make an impact in two very different ways and they both have stemmed from discussion in the class that I'm taking, Discipleship and Ethics.

First of all, the last three classes have really got me thinking about my role on this earth and how I impact it environmentally. We had a class on environmental ethics which was quite thought provoking. I had never really thought about it, but ethics can't be separated into neat little categories and so when I make a decision about something, it has ramifications that reach farther than I initially see.

I'll give you an example from our class that was led by an FPU prof. He was talking about the cost of organic and fair trade products. In the supermarket they are more expensive when you first read the price tag, but why don't they have the total cost breakdown on the bag of coffee or the apple? Why don't we take in consideration that when I purchase a regular apple, I may be supporting a farmer that only employs seasonal workers. Those workers can't make enough to live on and so they need to rely on social assistance. Or with the use of pesticides, introduces health problems that put a weight on health care. When I purchase an apple from Chili how much does it cost to truck it all the way to California when I could have purchased a "more expensive" apple from the local orchards 15 miles away? And so if I make the decision to eat organically isn't just an environmental decision, but it's also a socially ethical decision as well.

I got to thinking about my impact and how much food is trucked in for me to eat. I'm thinking seriously about the amount of energy is required to keep up with my meat consumption. I'm also thinking that maybe I shouldn't eat fast food as often as I have the desire to (although quite honestly, I think we have had a fast food burger once in the last 5 weeks, but if I had more $$ I would have to admit that I would be there more often...) simply because it is an environmentally bad choice, because of all the waste, and it feeds the demon of busyness, because people say they don't have enough time to sit down with family.

I'm not sure if I'll morph into a vegetarian-organic-only person, but I will eat less meat and I won't be buying styrofoam, even though it's cheaper than paper plates. Heck, I'll bring my own plate from home and then wash it myself! I won't buy regular light bulbs anymore, and I'm going to inform myself about the products that I buy. If I buy a certain type of product, how does it effect people in different parts of the world? What kind of waste does it produce? Is it the ethical thing to do? What kind of example am I setting for my kids? Do I make decisions that are very self centred or does it take in account other people? The website www.responsibleshopper.org is a great place to start and so though you can't be in my class with me and benefit from the discussion (nor do I want to rant and rave for pages and pages here on my blog), maybe if you have the chance, check it out. We can be purposeful about how we live, making thoughtful decisions instead of making careless choices.

I did a presentation in yesterday's class with Brenda on carrying for creation. It was put together in 45 minutes and we were the only group with two people. Mark tried to get us to split off and step into one of the other 5 groups, but we said we'd be fine with just the two of us. I was a bit nervous, but Brenda was a great person to work with. We had to present a 5 minute talk about carrying for creation, focusing on being centred-set and not guilting people with, you should's and you have to's. We also included the whole concept of naming, how we have been entrusted as caretakers of this world and as a testimony to those who don't know God. I think it went pretty well....

So the second part where I make an impact is through my contributions in class . In last week's class, when we were talking about the television and media, I made a couple of comments that I guess were very insightful. Anyways, after I had made the comments, Mark referred back to them, not once, not twice, not even three times, but FOUR times. Boy, I was feeling pretty proud of myself. I'm glad that I didn't take the easy way out and kept my mouth shut.

And then yesterday at common meal, while we sat with Mark for lunch, he told me again that he appreciated my comments and was glad that I could offer insight to the class.

Well, this morning I got an email from Mark affirming Brenda and I that our presentation was well thought out, from the concepts to the centred set language we used.

Wow....I hope my head isn't getting big. Anyways, I hope that the impact I make in this world and the contributions in my class benefit and give life to those around me.