Café - Hot Topic

Everyday earth day by Tamara Power-Drutis

Last spring I was accepted as a Pacific Lutheran University Sustainability Fellow, an experience that would forever affect the way I live my everyday life. My job is to research sustainability practices, particularly those on campus. Since I was going to be promoting sustainable lifestyles to my campus community, I thought that I should live a sustainable lifestyle myself.

If I was going to ask those around me to walk to school, buy local and organic, reduce their energy use, recycle, compost, and reuse more than they throw away, then I would have to do these things first. And you know what? The transition was not as difficult as I thought it would be. It was simple, enjoyable, and beneficial.

Getting rid of my car got me walking and riding my bike every day. Prioritizing earth-friendly foods translated into caring about what went into my body and preparing it in a healthy manner. Responsible waste habits meant savings all around.

I remember the first time my housemate commented on our recycling bin being fuller than our trash bin, and again when the trash bin was almost empty.

Every step I took toward leading a more sustainable lifestyle prepared me for the next step and inspired me to do more. I remember explaining the experience to my fellowship advisors as being like an addiction: Suddenly I couldn’t wait to learn more, couldn’t wait to tell those around me about how they could do the same, couldn’t wait to further engage my community on sustainability. It was contagious, and I couldn’t wait to pass it on.

What I discovered in my work was that others were generally excited about sustainability as well. My position called for promoting green progress on campus, which required collaboration with many people on many levels. As my research led to ideas, I began meeting with various individuals and groups around campus. I expected I would have to deliver sustainability sales pitches, but instead I found that students, staff, and faculty were all ready and prepared to jump in. PLU was ready to be more sustainable, and in most cases all it took was asking some questions, starting a conversation, or making a connection to get the ball rolling.

Next Share this article

Visit the study page for ideas for discussion and further reflection.

God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous.
Genesis 1:28–31

Joseph then suggests a disaster preparedness plan —during each of the next seven plentiful harvests, save for the lean years ahead. His plan is put into place, and enough food is saved that no one starves during the famine. Joseph’s stewardship, as my son’s Sunday school lesson said, “uses resources fairly.” Joseph and Pharaoh take immediate action — they might be afraid, but they don’t let fear immobilize them. There’s no room for that in the stewardship job description — we have too much work to do!

Earlier in the book of Genesis, in the first chapter, we are called upon to be stewards of creation and to use creation's gifts fairly, justly, and sustainably.

Next