Caring for Creation

Meyu Changkiri

Following World Environment Day on June 5, churches around the world are observing Environment Sunday and reflecting on our shared responsibility to care for God's creation. As Christians, we believe that the earth is a gift from God, entrusted to our care and stewardship.

Recently, my wife and I travelled to Resubelpara to attend the Fifth Biennial Assembly of the North East India Christian Council. The assembly was hosted by Belpara Baptist Church on behalf of the Garo Baptist Convention. The meetings were meaningful, the worship uplifting, and the fellowship enriching. Yet alongside the blessings of the gathering came another lesson - one that spoke powerfully about our relationship with God's creation.

As we travelled between Shillong and Resubelpara, accompanied by three fellow church leaders, we repeatedly found ourselves slowing down the car or stopping altogether. The reason was simple.

The landscape was breathtaking.

Travelling through Nongstoin and the West Khasi Hills, we passed through rolling green hills, fertile valleys, bamboo groves, streams, forests, and villages nestled among the landscape. As we moved further west, the scenery gradually changed. The familiar pine-covered hills gave way to dense tropical vegetation, fertile plains, and forests full of life.

At Kynshi, we stopped for tea and admired the beauty around us. Later, we enjoyed our packed lunch on the outskirts of Kynshi amidst scenery that seemed almost untouched by time. Along the way, we paused several times to take photographs. Everywhere we looked, nature seemed to be displaying its splendour.

Yet as the journey continued, I realised that the greatest lesson was not coming from the scenery itself. It was coming from the people. That realization transformed a beautiful journey into a meaningful reflection.

Learning from Community Stewardship
The lush greenery, healthy forests, flowing rivers, and thriving environment that we admired were not simply the result of favourable weather or natural abundance. They reflected the stewardship of communities who have chosen to care for the land entrusted to them.

As we travelled through Garo Land, we were not merely admiring landscapes. We were witnessing the outcome of countless acts of responsibility carried out by ordinary people over many years. The forests, rivers, and green surroundings spoke not only of nature's beauty but also of human stewardship.

In a world increasingly marked by environmental degradation, greed, and the reckless exploitation of natural resources, such examples deserve recognition.

This visit was not my first journey into Garo Land. Over the years, I have observed many admirable qualities among the people. Their warmth, resilience, generosity, and community spirit have always impressed me. During this visit, however, I found myself appreciating another strength - the conscious effort of many communities to live responsibly with the environment around them.

The environmental stewardship visible across Garo Land is not accidental. It is rooted in a long tradition of community responsibility and indigenous knowledge. Like many tribal communities across Northeast India, the Garos have historically maintained a close relationship with the natural world. Living close to the land has nurtured respect for forests, water sources, wildlife, and the delicate balance of nature.

Much of the forest land in the region is owned and managed by communities and clans rather than by the state. Many villages have voluntarily established Village Reserve Forests that serve as important habitats and wildlife corridors. Community-led initiatives, often undertaken in partnership with conservation organizations, have helped restore forests, protect elephant corridors, and preserve vital water catchments. Traditional practices continue to guide the responsible use of rivers, lakes, and other natural resources.

What is particularly encouraging is that conservation is not viewed solely as the responsibility of governments or environmental organizations. It is embraced by local communities themselves. The result is visible in healthy forests, thriving ecosystems, and landscapes that continue to sustain both people and wildlife.

Appreciating One Another's Strengths
One of the great blessings of living and serving in Northeast India is the opportunity to learn from one another. Our region is home to many peoples, languages, cultures, and traditions, each contributing something valuable to our shared life. As a Naga residing in Shillong among the Khasi people and serving the wider Christian community of the Northeast, I have learned to appreciate the strengths and gifts that different communities bring to society.

My observations during this journey are not intended as a comparison with others. Rather, they are an appreciation of a positive example. Every community has lessons worth sharing. Every community has strengths worth celebrating. During this visit, I was especially encouraged by the environmental consciousness and stewardship demonstrated in many parts of Garo Land.

A Biblical Call to Care for Creation
As Christians, we believe that creation belongs to God. The mountains, forests, rivers, birds, animals, and people are all part of His wonderful design. Genesis reminds us that God looked at His creation and declared it good. Humanity was entrusted with the responsibility to care for it. Genesis 2:15 tells us that God placed humanity in the garden "to work it and take care of it." Psalm 24:1 reminds us, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

Environmental stewardship is therefore not separate from Christian discipleship. It is part of it. For when we care for creation, we honour the Creator. When we protect forests and water sources, we safeguard gifts that God has provided. When we preserve resources for future generations, we demonstrate love for our neighbours.

Sadly, many parts of the world face growing environmental challenges. Forests are shrinking. Rivers are becoming polluted. Biodiversity is declining. Climate-related disasters are affecting communities with increasing frequency. The poor and vulnerable often suffer the most. These realities should concern us. Yet they should not cause us to lose hope.

Throughout history, positive change has often begun with local communities. The stewardship visible in many parts of Garo Land demonstrates that conservation and development can coexist. It shows that people can become caretakers rather than mere consumers.

Nurturing Stewardship in the Next Generation
Churches also have an important role to play. Our church compounds should reflect care and responsibility. Sunday Schools can teach children to appreciate God's creation. Youth groups can participate in tree-planting activities. Families can reduce waste and protect local resources. Sermons can remind believers that the earth belongs to God.

Recently, I was encouraged by the experience of my own children. Along with a few selected schoolmates, they participated in a poster project presentation organized in connection with World Environment Day. For several days, they spent long hours after school planning, discussing ideas, preparing materials, and working together on their project. What impressed me was not only the effort they invested but also the enthusiasm with which they embraced the task.

When the day finally arrived, they proudly presented their project before their teachers and fellow students. Later that day, they returned home excited and full of joy, speaking as though they had accomplished something truly great - and in many ways, they had. Their project may have been part of a school programme, but it represented something much larger: a growing awareness of their responsibility toward the environment and the world around them.

Watching their excitement reminded me that environmental stewardship is not only about government policies, conservation campaigns, or community initiatives. It is also about shaping values in the hearts and minds of the next generation. When children learn to appreciate nature, understand environmental challenges, and take ownership of caring for creation, we have reason to hope. Their enthusiasm reassured me that the message of stewardship is being passed on and that many young people are ready to become faithful caretakers of the world God has entrusted to us.

A Shared Responsibility and Hope
The message of Environment Sunday is not one of fear but of responsibility and hope. God has not abandoned His creation. He continues to sustain it, and He invites us to participate in its care.

As we travelled through the green hills, fertile plains, forests, valleys, and villages of Garo Land, we found ourselves giving thanks to God - for the beauty of the land, for the people who care for it, and for the lessons we could learn from them. The greenery of Garo Land is more than a beautiful sight. It is a testimony to community effort, shared responsibility, and respect for creation.

Yet the lessons of stewardship belong to all of us. Whether we live in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, or elsewhere, we share a common responsibility as caretakers of God's earth.

As we observe Environment Sunday, may we celebrate the beauty of God's creation wherever it is found. May we honour communities that have cared well for the land entrusted to them. And may we encourage one another to become faithful stewards of the forests, rivers, fields, and resources that sustain life.

Let each of us take one practical step. Plant a tree. Reduce waste. Protect a water source. Encourage environmental awareness in our churches and communities. Small actions, when multiplied by many hands, can create lasting change.

The journey from Shillong to Resubelpara covered only a few hundred kilometres, yet the lessons learned along the way travel much further. They remind us that faith is not confined to our churches, stewardship is not limited to environmental campaigns, and responsibility begins with ordinary people making faithful choices every day. They point us toward a future where faith, community, and environmental responsibility walk together.

May God help us to care for His creation with wisdom, gratitude, and love.

For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.

And it remains a gift worth protecting.