Earth Day

​I have always believed in fate, and I found it extra fitting that I was chosen to randomly write a blog on Earth Day.  I love our planet. I guess you could consider it a bias since it is the only planet we can exist on, but I do respect and love our planet. I once had an employer say to me, “Well, don’t you just thrive when it comes to the outdoors.”

​I believe God created the Earth so delicate and intricate that 

Tracee Dahm

our Earth functions in a way that is astonishing when you think of how much goes on our planet daily. From a simple sunrise or sunset harmonizing with symbiotic animal relationships, all while a chemical reaction lets our oxygen-dependent species breathe, coupled with the vastness of the different landscapes that are found all over the world. Yet, it all just seems to come together. All these creations. All these plants. All these animals. It could never have worked if it had never been meticulously planned.

Living in the panhandle of Idaho, I feel that we are blessed every day with the opportunity to see the beauty in God’s creation of Earth, and everything on it, more than others. It baffles me why anyone would trade the tall mountains and numerous evergreens for concrete jungles; however, to each their own. I am so glad that if I want to experience the splendor of nature, I do not have to travel far. I know many people who tell me they do not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit from sitting in a church pew, but rather from when they walk around in nature.
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Long concerned about the environment, Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin) persuaded Pete McCloskey, California Congressman, to serve as co-chair to develop a program to encourage public consciousness and awareness about air and water pollution. This collaboration between Nelson and McCloskey in 1969, along with others, led to the first Earth Day on April 22,1970. This is considered to be the dawn of the modern environmental movement. Visit earthday.org for more information.

While I am not as powerful as a senator, my family and I enjoy celebrating Earth Day. We always read Dr. Suess’ “The Lorax” and we like to pick up litter somewhere. Sometimes we go on a hike to view nature and bring a plastic garbage bag to throw away the litter we find on our hike. Littering is a serious offense in our family. My children know not to throw their trash on the ground. They were taught at an early age to keep their litter in their pockets until they find the proper receptacle to put it into. I would love for anyone to be able to celebrate Earth Day, so I listed several simple suggestions.

1. Turn off electricity in rooms when no one is in the room.
2. Go for a walk/jog/run/hike outside.
3. Donate to a nonprofit organization that helps reduce plastic waste or help with animals.
4. Visit a National or State Park.
5. Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
6. Start a compost bin.
7. Fix leaking or dripping faucets.
8. Plant a tree.

​Grace & Peace, Tracee