Dear Editor,

Being a St. Louis native has advantages not afforded to many Wash. U. students. I live in the dorms; however, I don’t wait for mail, I can see my dogs whenever I want and I can score free meals whenever my family eats out.

In particular, I’ve enjoyed not having to navigate the mess that is traveling back to St. Louis. And so on the Sunday before classes began, which most of you likely spent unpacking or flying to Lambert, I decided to go on a walk.

Around midday I donned some warm clothes and stepped outside (I live beside an expansive 564-acre park). It was cold, but the clean, sharp air was refreshing, and I took my time ambling on a trail that follows the park’s perimeter.

I went to church that morning; however, for me, my spirituality is grounded most firmly in my love for nature. Being outside gives me a sense of awe that I am a part of a grand web of existence that connects all living things is both fascinating and incredible. I find the beauty of this delicate design very spiritually moving.

My respect for this interdependent web of existence has naturally made environmental sustainability a key aspect of my lifestyle choices. I became a vegetarian, I carry my own silverware everywhere I go and I am an avid fan of reusable shopping bags.

Environmental advocates have the facts behind them: Global warming is real, and it is happening. But they often fail to understand the potential for connecting with individuals on a spiritual level. Many religious texts have moving passages about the Earth’s beauty. Moreover, given the potential consequences, deciding to act on climate change is, at its heart, a moral question.

As our world is forced to confront our environmental problems, some will discover the necessity to act through charts and numbers. But many will be most readily moved by realizing the connection between their spirituality and the world around them. As environmentalists, we must not sacrifice this avenue of engagement if we are to succeed in our efforts to protect the planet.

Jake Lyonfields
Class of 2014