FREE AIR

Just recently my tires began losing air. Upon close inspection a leak was discovered in one tire and unfortunately all the tires were wearing out from the inside. I needed a new set of tires. I scheduled the car appointment for a week in the future, but the following morning I was dismayed to find the enemy tire severely low in air. To my surprise, the gas stations nearby all required payment to use an air pressure machine. $2.00 for one minute of air pressure!

Never before in life have I paid for air.

The day before my car was to receive her new tires, I discovered a FREE air pressure machine! This filled me with more joy than seemed appropriate for such a find – FREE AIR!!. I inhaled – feeling grateful.

AND YET – after I inhaled the air around me, the irony of my situation became obvious…air is not free. While I filled my tire I was breathing in the smoky residue of hundreds of fires north and west of me in Canada. While I have healthy lungs, I’ve noticed some slight congestion as I swim. Is this aging? Probably not – likely it is from breathing the air around me that is currently rated “unhealthy” (Air Quality Index/AQI of 150-200 – level of pollutants – see AirNow.gov) I am paying the price – in my body – of breathing smoke from far away fires.

I recall watching the move “An Inconvenient Truth” in 2007 with my two (now adult) children. Climate crises – unbearable heat across the globe – more floods – more fires – rapidly melting glaciers – the statistics were sobering. I felt some selfish sense of relief that I would likely be dead by the time these realities became severe. “My two children will live through this” I thought. Thankfully their generation is brilliant and will find the solutions needed.

Yet here we are 16 years later and the crisis is NOW. The changes are happening quickly and each day brings new challenges. Heat records are broken daily in the US and all over the world.

Somehow, in ways I cannot fully understand, we must all work on this together. Pope Francis said, “ rivers, do not drink their own water, trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers, do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…. Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”

When we serve the world together – when we learn together and talk in circle – when we do small tasks that contribute to healing the world, things change.

When the disciples were faced with a challenge by Jesus to feed thousands with only a small amount of bread and fish, they were clueless. What to do? But then they did feed thousands!! Entrusting their meager offering to their teacher and master, there was somehow enough for the thousands to eat and be filled. We face tasks that seem impossible, but we can do them.

In 2022 and 2023, IN OUR HANDS lead five Civil Rights Pilgrimages to learn about the movement in the 1950s and 60s. We were horrified to learn a more complete account of African-American history at the Legacy Museum in Montgomery. We were inspired by stories of “foot soldiers” who lived through beatings, bombings, and protests.

Where are you serving and learning? Join with other generous people for a serving opportunity in the future. Life is BETTER for others because of your service!