Black Gold
Composting is spiritual. There I said it. I’m a total treehugger now right?
I know Rob Bell said “Everything is spiritual” and I have yet to see the presentation but I’ve already decided that if he is talking about composting he is right.
Multiple studies have been done that show the health benefits of gardening. The people of Japan are the healthiest in the world with the longest life expectancy and what do you think they have in common? Among other things, Gardening. There is something in that. Not only eating healthy food but also the act itself. Most gardeners love it so because of the mediative state it puts you in. You have the ability to get work done all the while able to contemplate life in a prayerful attitude. But you ask: How can something that is literally the decomposition of waste be spiritual? Good question. Below I listed my 12 reasons why I think composting is spiritual and another form of worship. Yes, I said worship.
1. Deters less waste to the dump. We all have too much stuff and too much trash. Since we have started recycling and composting the amount of trash that ends up at our curb has been cut in half if not more.
2. God gave us His creation to maintain. Just like when somebody leaves you with some sort of responsibility like watching their kids, feeding fish, watching dogs, or some specific task. You typically give it more care and attention than you would otherwise because the object they asked you to care for is not yours. It would be strange to look at something God gave to you and neglect it.
3. It is a practice and symbolism of your belief of the work of Jesus on the cross. Through the death of the composted material (which is full of vital nutrients) to bring about new life in plants. You are not only doing something to focus on Christ but you are literally bringing about new life. Frankly I don’t care what people think about this. To me it is literally like communion or baptism. “Do this in remembrance of me”…and I can’t help but remember Jesus when I’m composting.
4. From ashes to ashes - Is this not obvious?
5. Probably the biggest reason for this opinion has been my reflection on Deuteronomy 6:4-8. “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. when you compost… We are to take every opportunity to teach these things to your children. Composting is another life experience that you can use to teach your kids about God and His Word.
6. As Rob Bell said anything that puts your mind on Christ is spiritual.(anything not sinful obviously)
7. If you’ve done even a limited amount of bible study you will be able to see that the bible is littered with stories and parables that relate to the creation and agriculture. When you are gardening and composting you get closer to understanding the agrarian context of the Bible.
8. Composting in necessary in organic gardening, and organic gardening is spiritual.
9. Garden of Eden anyone?
10. The Kingdom of Jesus is about making “all things new“. All things including the ground that gives you food.
11. Give us today our daily bread. - This verse of The Lords Prayer reveals that we are to be daily seeking God and his provision quite literally down to what we eat. Humility and reverence are a natural byproduct of realizing our dependence on God. As we continue to eat fast food there is an automatic disconnect from the fact that God provides your sustenance. He gives you your provision and He created this earth to be the avenue by which we nourish our bodies. We forget that the earth can actually take care of us. When we separate too far away from our food in growing, eating and preparing it we lose a posture of humility and the understanding that it is a provision from God.
12. The worlds current way of operating is to rape the ground for all its worth and not give back. Some tribes of ancient people have said: Take only what you need. Only what you need for yourself. Often ancient people didn’t believe in owning property which is much like the example in Acts. If we respect the creation and harvest things wisely it becomes something you can keep coming back to year after year. By composting you are giving back instead of raping the His Creation and joining a revolution that goes against the patterns of this world.
13…I could keep going….Adam was made from the ground….
So now when you think of spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, and communion you should also think of …composting. I know total heresy. I’m gonna burn.
You can and should compost even if you don’t have a garden. After all you could use it on your yard or give it to me! How do you do it? This isn’t a how to post. You can find composting guides all over the place. The main thing is to balance browns and greens, keep it warm, turn it and lightly water it often and before you know it you will have Black Gold.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
Randy, you’ve gone off the deep end. But I do like company.
May 24th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I especially like point #11…Jeremy and I have a continual discussion on eating out too much and putting too much junk into our bodies…we need to put more emphasis on the food being God’s provision…I am glad that you have brought this to my attention.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Rob, well i’m on my way down. Remember I didn’t start out home schooled.
Yeah, Misty I think thats a conversation that is going on increasingly right now. Not only in my own marriage but many our age. Your right about “emphasis” because the truth is people can and should have the ability to do whatever they want but as Christians we have to decide where our emphasis is. And our emphasis has been in the wrong place.