Happy New Year to all of you! Last night I chose to watch the movie 'Promised Land' to ring in my new year - while that may sound like an odd choice to many, it was exactly what I needed to end one year and begin thinking about what I'd like to focus on for 2014. As some of you know, I am passionate about caring for our planet in a sustainable and responsible manner. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is none of that and I'm going to boldly begin my year by asking some tough questions and hopefully shedding some light on the subject. As I learn more I'll post here, and hopefully as all of you learn more you'll share your knowledge here as well.

Fracking is the process of fracturing shale rock by pressurized liquid - usually a mixture of sand, water and chemicals for the purpose of extracting oil or natural gas. This is a super simple explanation for a complicated process involving drilling and injecting the water, sand and chemicals into fissures in the rock. Why am I concerned about fracking? Among many concerns I have is that it is highly unregulated right now due to an exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act pushed through in the 2005 energy bill. For now, to make a complicated subject simple I ask: is this a sustainable practice, and is it bringing us closer or farther away from relying on clean energy sources and leaving behind a planet that is fit to inhabit by those that come after us? The answer is very clearly an emphatic NO! I have yet to see an argument for fracking that leads me to believe it is a viable solution to our energy problems or economy problems; and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

I highly recommend 'Promised Land' as a movie to begin your research on fracking if you haven't done so already. While it doesn't teach on a deep level the technicality of fracking, it gives a basic overview and examines the subject on a very human level, as regards jobs, homes, farms and the still flat economy.

Here's another place to begin education: http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking This link has lots of great information and while I haven't yet watched this movie, everything I've read on it says it educates greatly. It is next on my list to watch.

I realize this barely scratches the surface of a deep subject, but we have to start somewhere right? Again I ask the question of us: what are we trying to become as a nation, as a people and how are we protecting and nurturing the planet that is currently in our care so that we may pass it on to the care of many generations to come?

Be well. I look forward to hearing your thoughts throughout this year.

In health and love,

Angela

A couple of days ago I was in our neighborhood P-Patch (community garden) and was greeted by one of the other gardeners with whom I am relatively newly befriended. This person is older than myself and has some health issues which prevent her from doing work that is too laborious or she has to use her oxygen tank. This however, doesn't seem to have slowed her down any. She seems to prefer to wind up having to run home and sit with her oxygen on, than to not be out with all of us working in the garden. 

Now, I have come to have a soft spot for this woman whom I will call Mary (not her real name). Mary seems to have taken a liking to me, and I to her as well. She often seeks me out at the garden, and will even occassionally give me a call when I haven't been around for a bit to find out where I am. The other day when I saw Mary, it suddenly occurred to me (knowing her economic situation), that perhaps she could use some food, and since I had just come from the store I gave her some of what I had, then asked if she needed a ride to the food bank (knowing she used these resources). She immediately lit up and answered that YES, she would love a ride if I was going to the food bank. I replied that I wasn't going myself, but would be happy to bring her there. She accepted the offer and ran home to get her bags and card.

All the way to the food bank she thanked me for my generosity and praised God for bringing me to her to give her a ride. I told her it was really not a big deal, but admittedly felt within myself a bit of pride that I was doing a good thing. After we got her re-registered (it seems it had been awhile since she had last been there) and got her food, she asked if we might pass the dollar store on the way back so she could pick up some gallons of water. I (rather begrudgedly) said sure but that I had to hurry now as I had some other things l still had to get done. We got her water and I brought her home. The entire trip Mary kept thanking me for helping her, saying it was hard for her to get to the food bank since she didn't drive, and telling me I was her angel. The whole process between the food bank and the dollar store took about an hour and a half. I got Mary and her groceries safely deposited at her apartment, and went home feeling happy I had helped somebody. 

Well today I got a phone call from Mary. She was calling to tell me that I needed to come over and pick up some food because she was cooking for me. " I made you my traditional sauce and am putting it on the spaghetti I got at the food bank. Remember Angela, that you told me I could take two packages of spaghetti (it was what they allowed)? Well, I'm making one for you!" I protested, telling her that there was no need, that she should keep the food, it was for her. "No," she says, "You are my angel, and I want to share what I have with you. I want to cook for you, to share my food with you. I want to share what I have with you." What could I say to that? "Thank you Mary." I told her. 

I am humbled. My friend who has so little for herself, and whose work cost her the very air she breathes, serves me out of love, out of friendship, out of gratitude for something that in reality cost me so little. I am humbled. 

Thank you Mary for the lesson in service. While I had served Mary out of love for her, I admit that I had some pride within myself for doing something good for her. What I carry with me now is the joy in serving Mary, and the joy she returned to me in serving me - the latter a most unexpected gift. Thank you Mary for the lesson in love, community, and what can only be called God. I am humbled.