Where Creation and Community Meet: The Holy Work of Being Right Here

Modern life often disconnects us from the places we inhabit, leaving us mentally elsewhere even while physically present. Through the voices of Wendell Berry and Annie Dillard, we discover how care for place and attention to the ordinary can ground our faith in the here and now. Berry teaches us that "I stand for what I stand on," reminding us of our deep connection to the earth from which we were formed (Genesis 2:7-15). Dillard shows us how to truly see what's before us, practicing the attentiveness Jesus commended when he invited us to "look at the birds" and "see the flowers" (Matthew 6:26-29). Together, these prophetic voices invite us to sink roots and grow branches right where we are—learning the stories of our places, practicing attention to what surrounds us, and committing to tangible acts of care. As Romans 8:19-22 reminds us, all creation groans for liberation, and we are called to participate in God's work of healing and reconciliation, beginning with the ground beneath our feet. This is not just environmentalism but a spiritual orientation that reflects God's dream for creation and community to flourish together.