plastic: a spiritual perspective
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| Plastic bag in front of Trinity by the Sea |
The plastic grocery bag has become like a handshake at the end of the deal: it seems to make the shopping experience complete. It is such an ingrained habit, that the person behind the cash register sometimes gets a suspicious look when I ask for no bag, as if thinking, "This yahoo is threatening our way of life!"
I think about habits a lot, as a Christian of the Episcopal persuasion. Our practices and our experiences in everyday life shape the way we understand our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves. The intentional spiritual practices of the church, for example, aren't things we're supposed to do because God will smite us if we don't [pray, read the Bible enough, go to church]; rather, those practices open our hearts to new understandings about God and the world around us. Left completely to our unintentional-selfishness, we risk degrading into isolated, consuming, ever-unfulfilled, and spiritually void shells-of-humanity.
Intentional practices of setting aside time for prayer (in any variety of expressions), reading scripture, and participation in a church community breaks open the misunderstanding that we are completely alone, and can guide us to the reality that we are creatures built for relationship: with God, others, and ourselves. It is the practices that open us to experience a new reality, they open us to transformation.
That is not a reality bound to things we might label as religious or spiritual (or it might, more profoundly expand what we label as such to all of life!) So, a simple transaction at a convenience store or grocery store may become an opportunity to consider intentional practices in a spiritual context. What does it really mean (in the grand scheme of God's good creation) to use or not use a "single use plastic bag"? Having been commanded by God to be the stewards of the very good creation, it is our responsibility as humans not to only consider our own temporary convenience, but to consider the rest of creation as well. The evidence of single use plastic negatively impacting our environment is convincing enough to me (and easily apparent, living on the coast here) that I believe a community response is warranted. Being on vacation in Austin that day in the grocery store, I would have taken the plastic bag if it had been offered, out of laziness, not out of a real need. Not having the option called me to a point of reflection, and helped me to be a good steward of the good creation in "a weak moment."
This week, as our Port Aransas City Council considers banning single-use-plastic bags, it is my prayer that they consider not just the short term implications, but that they consider a much bigger picture as stewards of God's good creation. I hope that they act with consideration of the impact on the the world. I hope they act considering how our small island town can be a good example to other small towns. We happen to be on the edge of the world here, and we have a front row seat where we can see not only our local bags, but the bags that come down rivers or blow in with cold-fronts. A step in the right direction here in Port Aransas could help influence those towns upriver. (The Colorado R. is cleaner now, thanks to Austin's decision.) It is a small step and sacrifice that can even lead us, I believe, into deeper spiritual relationship with God, others, and ourselves.
Whatever the outcome of this week's meeting (Maundy Thursday, April 17, 5 p.m. at City Hall) I am thankful that the conversation has reached this level, and I hope to see it continue.
More about these bags and their impact beyond our trip from the check-out line to the kitchen:
Corpus Christi and Plastic Bags
Surfrider Foundation: Plastic Bag Ban on Another Coast
Some Plastic Statistics
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