Common Ground
An interesting winter has made way for an interesting spring. Two weeks ago, I was in western Pennsylvania where the high temperature was 38 degrees and the sky was spitting snow! This winter, the western United States experienced warmer than normal temperatures prompting scientists to study its effects on wildlife. Researchers for the United States Geological Survey and the University of Montana explored the influence of the earth’s rising temperatures on animals. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Climate Change were this: A lack of snow in the mountains of Arizona has enabled elk, who normally would stay away from higher snow-covered elevations, to descend to lower levels and to eat vegetation year round. This in turn has destroyed the habitat for certain songbirds. Once again, we are given a glimpse into the interdependence of nature.
Interdependence doesn’t only apply to animals. We humans are more interdependent than we would like to believe. Our actions, no matter how small, can seep through the boundaries of geography and culture affecting other human beings. Our readings during the Easter season give us insight to what can happen when we acknowledge our interdependence:
The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as their own; rather everything was held in common. Acts 4:32
Recognizing what they had in common, rather than what made them different enabled the first Christian community to move beyond the limits of race and religion. Likewise, our liturgy calls us to gather as one recognizing our shared beliefs and common humanity over our differences. Liturgy reminds us how dependent we are on God and how intertwined our lives really are:
I am the vine, you are the branches. John 15:5
