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“Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.  Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”  Matthew 13:16-17   The Parable of the Sower

Today we hold in our prayers the work of young people advocating for climate change, speaking publicly about the climate emergency and calling the world to accountability.
These youth need our support and prayers. Talitha Amadea Aho, a Presbyterian Pastor, writes:
“The young people today do not remember stability. They see the world through crisis-colored glasses.  Climate change is creating a spiritual emergency that is hitting their generation harder than any other.  We must learn how to offer spiritual care that is informed by the spiritual-ecological crisis of this time….”

This week two Qualicum high school youth spoke in city council about the climate emergency.  All winter they have been sitting in front of City Hall, as part of Fridays for Future, a youth-led globally organised climate strike movement started by Greta Thunberg in 2017; a hopeful new wave of change, inspiring us to take action on the climate crisis.  It isn’t easy work and these youth, one from St. Stephen’s, need to know that they are not forgotten nor neglected by their faith communities.   

Talitha Aho, in Deep Waters, Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis writes: “if they do not show that the climate crisis affects them emotionally, young people may still feel alienated….Prophets need a lot of support.  When they speak to a crowd of people who do not feel the way they do, they can really use a person behind the scenes who affirms their feelings, saying, ‘I can only imagine that if I were in your shoes, I would feel the same way too.’  Even better is someone who repeats what they have said, amplifying their message, saying, ‘This person’s experience is important information we all need to hear.’”

The youth who spoke to city council had 10 minuets to make their presentation.  They were well prepared, with slides, and well spoken.  They are today’s prophets speaking out, calling us to accountability for our planet and our future. One council remarked afterwards that their persistence over the past winter could not be ignored and had to be responded to.

In our prayers, in our actions as disciples of Christ caring for God’s creation; in our relationship with creation, may we hear the call of these young prophets and be blessed in our support. Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear

Pray

Loving Lord, you remind us how much you value and love children and youth. We pray for the climate crisis and the devastating impact it is having on our world and children’s lives.
We thank you for young people, their passion and conviction to care and protect your world. We pray that their actions and words are taken seriously. We ask that as adults we will strive to protect the world that they will grow up in.  Grant us the wisdom to listen to their anxiety, their grief, their bold words, and in your love give us the faith to stand with them.   Amen

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash