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Christ-centred. Creative. Canadian.
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In our retirement, my wife and I have been blessed to travel. We were in Paris at the beginning of June, where we took a river cruise up the Seine to Normandy and remembered the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made on Juno Beach.
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Unlike past vacations, the weather was a disappointment – cool (18-22°C highs) and often rainy. But we put on shells and hoodies and still saw many of the sights.
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We were glad the previous week’s highs (30-32°C) were over. It’s always easier to put on a sweater than to cool down in the heat.
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Now, as I write this following our visit, the temperatures in Paris and across France make us thankful we experienced cooler weather. At the end of June, France experienced extreme heat, with temperatures reaching more than 40°C (104°F). That’s higher than our normal body temperature of 36°C. Such high temperatures can prove fatal if one can’t find a way to lower their body heat.
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France, and much of Europe, is under a heat dome. Sites like the Eiffel Tower are closing or reducing hours, as is the Louvre. Most places in Europe are not equipped with the powerful air conditioners common in Canada. I’m praying for those seeking cooling centres or trapped in overheated apartments.
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Extreme weather events like this are becoming more common as our climate heats up, driven by the amount of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases we pump into our atmosphere. The trend is upsetting. While climate is a long-term description of our weather, it affects the day-to-day weather we see in the news. And the result can be literally disastrous.
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In Canada, we have seen rivers of rain drop large amounts of water in very short periods, causing floods. Low winter snowfalls and dry summer heat are increasing the likelihood of forest fires across the country. As carbon dioxide levels rise, we see more extreme storms, floods and droughts worldwide. The locations seem to change, but the effects are very real.
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As Christians charged with the care of creation, we need to rise to this moment and not only pray and call out our government, but also look at all our personal decisions through a creation lens. Scripture tells us prayer without action is false. What can you and I do to make a difference? Is the environmental footprint of that new car something to think about? Should it be an electric car instead? Is a heat pump in my future? How do my food choices affect creation? Should we eat less meat?
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Often, there is no single right answer to these questions. The solutions can differ for each of us. But in all our actions we are called to faithfully care for creation. As God loves us we must, in turn, love his world.
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Did someone forward this newsletter to you?
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DROUGHT IN THE VALLEY
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In the summer of 2025, the rain just would not fall. Some parts of Nova Scotia received more rainfall than others. The Annapolis Valley, especially across its northern side, got very little. This small, suffering world of ours needs a break from us.
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NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE
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Although it may seem that efforts are being made to reverse climate change, they are not enough. As quickly as possible, we must create a new course of action.
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UNDERSTANDING OUR CLIMATE CRISIS
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Climate science can be complicated, and it’s difficult to digest the reports telling us that we must keep the world from increasing in temperature beyond 1.5 more degrees. What does that even mean?
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TRAVEL WITH CHRISTIAN COURIER
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Christian Courier features authors from across Canada, making each issue feel like a trip across the country. Subscribe to CC in print and travel Canada with us!
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For more information on church bundles, contact Michelle directly at [email protected], or call 1-800-275-9185.
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