A Rocha USA Blog

Dave Timmer*

“You guys are kind of out-of-the-box as far as this environmental-thing goes,”  she said, as she tried her hardest to put me in one, “I like it.”  I knew what she was saying.  

A Rocha straddles worlds.  It is religious and scientific.  It is an environmental group that is purposefully not political. It is community-based with a global perspective.  Grassroots but active in 20 countries.  Focused on education, but mostly teaching through example.  A conservation organization with an eye on the poor.     

I’ve worked in the conservation field for more than 10 years. I can only thank God as I realize the blessing it has been, making a living from what you are passionate.  I’ve worked for the federal gov’t, a non-profit conservation organization, a top-notch university, and a tribe.  I’ve had some great jobs.  I’ve also been blessed as an A Rocha volunteer, getting conservation projects started in the Lynden area.  Today I find myself transitioning.  I am now employed by A Rocha.  I guess you could say, I’m getting out of the box.

So what does A Rocha do?  We learn about our place, God’s place.  We count its birds, its insects, and its salmon.  We plant trees, we plant gardens.  We distribute food to those who need it.  We seek shalom.  We help creation flourish.  The best part...everyone’s invited.    

The grand narrative of scripture shows God’s creation being damaged, but then unfolding towards redemption.  His story includes the creative process, the influence of power, greed, and idolatry on his creation, and him continually stepping in to guide it towards a new creation.  Christ coming into the story, taking on the corruptive power, is an obvious climactic apex.  He fulfills the prophecies, takes on the damage, he proclaims a new kingdom.  His story culminates in martyrdom, executed for beginning that new order....that new kingdom.  In the process he breaks the chains of the old law, he allows his new wine to flow, he heals those sickened by the broken creation.  In his resurrection, he conquers death.  What does he do next?

He starts picking thistles.  

John’s gospel tells of Mary Magdelene initially finding the empty tomb and running to tell the disciples, then she comes back to the empty tomb.  She is probably trying to figure out what just happened.  After her Rabbi was executed, his body is now gone.  As she stands there crying, a voice tries to comfort her.  She turns and sees Jesus but doesn’t recognize him.  She thinks he is the gardener.  The gardener? What was he doing to make her think he was the gardener.  I can only imagine that he must have picked up a hoe and was clearing out some weeds, or maybe it was a shovel and he was planting a new garden.  After all, that is what his father did to start all this, right?  Jesus’ first act after his resurrection, the initiation of the new kingdom, is to get to work setting things back in order.  The next act in God’s story it to fulfill his original plan for creation.  As always, he includes us in that plan.  He longs for us to realize our proper role as steward, as good ruler, as an assistant in its productivity.  

So he first plants a garden...he picks a thistle.  

Shalom is proper relationships. It is the proper relationship between God and us, between me and you, and between us and the rest of creation.  It is what God wants.  

A Rocha works on those relationships.  With God, with each other, and with the rest of creation.  So let’s plant some trees, let’s clean up his creation, let’s enjoy its beauty, let’s break some bread.  

Out of the box?   She’s right.   


*Timmer is A Rocha's NW Washington Stewardship Director