Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.
On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22: 1-5 NRSVue
Well folks, I'm going for the hat-trick -- three days in a row where I'm reflecting primarily on passages of scripture.
I saw recently that the city of Copenhagen, Denmark is planting tree and shrubs which bear fruit. There is already a project to plant trees at childcare centres and the plan is to put more trees and shrubs along municipal streets to connect people with literally low hanging fruit. Here is one description:
Copenhagen set to plant hundreds of communal fruit trees on city streets
Copenhagen’s city council recently voted to plant public fruit trees, including blackberry bushes and apple trees, in a variety of public green spaces such as playgrounds, cemeteries, churchyards, parks, sports facilities, etc., in an effort to reconnect people with local flora and food. For Astrid Aller, a Copenhagen City Councilor from the Socialist People’s Party who helped spearhead the initiative, this interactive urban orchard is a way of connecting residents to their communities. “We think of the city as something that we all own,” she told Atlas Obscura. “We want all this collectively owned area to be something that people can use and interact with.”
I like the church property idea and, actually, a few weeks ago I spoke with a Trenton UC member about the possibility of planting a few trees on our steep lawn, which can't be used for much else. Well, why not fruit trees?
When I read the article I thought of the passage from the last book of the Christian bible, the Revelation of John, and the last chapter. The bible begins in a garden (Genesis) and concludes in a garden (Revelation) but the latter is in the new Jerusalem, an urban setting. John's vision of this city includes a river with crystal clean water, and a variety of fruit trees, and no street lights blocking the stars.This is my idea of heaven!
There are plenty of Christians hoping for this "new heaven and a new Earth" and see it as exclusively a future promise. Why can't we get with the program now, in our commitment to "living with respect in Creation"? (A New Creed UCC)
Oh yes, my apologies to Danny Kaye for this blog title.
I see a new heaven. I see a new earth
as the old one will pass away,
where the fountain of life flows and without price goes
to all people who abide in the land.
1 There, there on the banks of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root, the Tree of Life will be. R
Voices United 713
No comments:
Post a Comment