More Than Just Crows

To view the photo-rich magazine version, click here.

Originally appears in the Winter 2021 issue.

By Jared Goodykoontz

Editor’s Note: Including a short story in the magazine is a departure from the norm for us, but when Jared came to us with this idea, we were immediately interested. At a moment in history when much of the rhetoric bouncing around both social and mainstream media involves perceived divisions and constant reminders of all that apparently separates us, why not look for some common ground? For some, different faiths clash with scientific principles. One of the more well-known examples is the matter of evolution versus creation. But is “versus” really the word to use here? Can the two not co-exist? Back in last year’s summer issue (# 120), Carissa McKinney, who is of both Jewish and Indigenous descent, wrote of being worried that her teaching evolution would be frowned upon at her Jewish school. After all, the scientific understanding we have of Earth evolving over 4.6 billion years doesn’t really jive with believing that the process took six days. Not only did Carissa find no resistance to teaching evolution, but she was inspired to dig deeper into how conservation of natural resources aligns with the teachings of both Judaism and the Wampanoag nation of her father’s lineage. As outlined in her article, Carissa was pleased with the fascinating connections she found. Jared has had a similar experience examining Christianity. And this is just a starting point. As an organization committed to hearing from and giving voice to as many different perspectives as possible, we’re excited to continue exploring the various roles conservation plays in the many different faiths and understandings of life that comprise our community and beyond.

Francis booted up his laptop. After almost a year of pandemic-caused virtual doctor’s appointments, business meetings, and church services, it was now time to begin the virtual family Christmas gatherings. He felt thankful for the technology to do this… but of course, his humanity ached for proximity — being close to the people he cared about. Francis had seen many ups and downs throughout his years as a pastor, but 2020 had surely been a unique challenge.