Leaf Rapids, Manitoba has become the first Canadian town or city to pass a bylaw banning single-use plastic shopping bags.
That means retailers in the town will have to use bags made of paper or biodegradable plastic.
Town councillors in Leaf Rapids hope other local governments will do the same. (Canadian Press, taken from thespec.com)
That’s what I like to see!
At the True City conference, the president of Yonge Street Mission spoke. He said the Bible names three sources of wealth:
(He noted that the Bible doesn’t talk about becoming wealthy by working hard.)
I struggle that I fall into category One. I am wealthy because I was born in Canada, I received an education and also went to university, and now I have a job above minimum wage. I didn’t do anything particularly difficult to follow that path.
I did nothing to deserve this blessing nor this wealth. But why did I get to be born here and educated? Why did God choose to bless me?
You see, I work with refugees for one of my jobs. Why did they have to be born in a country of instability and upheaval, forcing them to flee everything and start over here? Canada is a safe place for the most part, but these refugees will still live in poverty and will not enjoy the wealth I enjoy. Why did God ‘choose’ to not bless them with wealth?
The short answer is I am blessed by God so I can bless others.
The hard part is determining what that means. When I take home my pay cheque, what do we spend it on? How can I celebrate with my wealth when I know others suffer? Yet, God does love celebrations of his Goodness.
Giving a token amount away would help, but I don’t think that is what I am called to do. Giving until I suffer a bit might help me to remember the wealth is from God and not my work and I still need to rely on him to provide. I could celebrate some with those who have nothing. Maybe do all of these.
And I think I need to follow the desires of my heart too: that the root causes of injustice are what need to be changed. Because giving of my wealth to those in need will never help all in need until there is a decrease in the reasons people are in need.
Eradicate category Two would be a worthy use of my wealth.
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