EARTH DAY :

OPTIMIST OR PESSIMIST?

Is it worth it to promote, "Earth Day",
to remind us that every day,
we need to keep this our living room
clean and healthy? I wondered about that
as I walked down the street
this afternoon: “Today did anyone

hesitate to toss an empty
coffee cup in the street

because it was "Earth Day"?
Did anyone pick up a crushed
aluminum can against a curb –
or an empty plastic bottle?
I did – but there was too much stuff
tossed just anywhere – on street
and sidewalk. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

But then I spotted sparkling diamonds
of clear water on green shoots.
This made all the earth glisten

translucent green for a moment.

I rather be an optimist. I would

rather believe that words like, "Earth Day"

have an impact - like the words,

"Do I see the glass half full

or half empty?" have always

had an impact on people.

After all, "The earth is full

of the goodness of the Lord." [1]

After all, God looked at what God

created and said, "It is good." [2]

© Andy Costello, Reflection 2010

[1] Psalm 33

[2] Genesis 1