In honour of COP17 - the climate change conference currently taking place in Durban, South Africa - this week’s book review is the engagingly humorous and startlingly profound attempt by one pastor and his family to live responsibly and faithfully as stewards of God’s creation. In ‘Year of Plenty: One Suburban Family, Four Rules, and 365 Days of Homegrown Adventure in Pursuit of Christian Living,’ Pastor Craig Goodwin and his young family embark on a year-long experiment to consume only what was local, used, homegrown, or homemade. Goodwin shares how he and his wife decided upon this move in the aftermath of Christmas one year, feeling sickened and depleted by the excess consumerism of it all. While there are plenty of ‘eco’ books out there that recount similar stories, what is refreshing about Goodwin’s book is the clear theological message he exhorts amidst their struggle to make sense of simple living, farmers markets, backyard chicken and going green.
Goodwin believes the Christian faith has largely been colonised by the narrative of consumption and unlimited growth, which is why this book is more than a call to ‘go green,’ but instead stands as a profoundly wise challenge to grapple with the theological foundations of caring for the environment. In this Goodwin paraphrases Wendell Berry's famous phrase, "eating is an agricultural act," by saying that"eating is a theological act." (195). He writes:
“For those of us who claim an ultimate allegiance to the Jesus who is redeeming all things (Col. 1:20), decisions about what we purchase or don't purchase are vital expression of our faith. In a world where everything is being gathered up "in Christ" (Eph. 1:10) we are invited to join in, seeking justice and peace by what we gather up in our arms at the shopping mall and grocery store.”
It is quite possible to idealise and romanticise the kind of ‘simple life project’ undertaken by the Goodwins, but the author charmingly avoids these pitfalls by recounting stories that illustrate how much they struggled to fight consumerism and stay green amidst the normal suburban rounds of working parents, moderate incomes, peer pressure and children’s birthday parties. Goodwin admits he and his wife had no idea what they were really getting into and describes many of these situations with endearing wit, while at the same time helping his readers to appreciate that sustainable living is never a flip or easy choice. Goodwin’s story is nevertheless a deeply touching one that enables readers to see the possibilities of living in a way that is more honouring toward God and creation. This story take readers on a journey of discovering the immensely beautiful, yet often mysterious and hidden connections between food and people, the land and human flourishing, environmentalism and devotion to God.
While the idea of going green may not be your ‘thing,’ Goodwin’s heart for the church and his strong theological foundations ensure that Christians learn just how integral to faith caring for the environment is. Goodwin describes his family’s journey as an ‘adventure,’ and through his amusing, yet very real stories, and his deep and abiding faith, this Presbyterian pastor brings a healthy and fresh perspective to conversations in environmentalism and sustainable living.