Red shadows shimmer from a red sun as smoke blankets our skies this week. It’s all because of the more than 180 wildfires currently burning throughout B.C. Everything is hot and tinder dry (including me!), thanks to an extended heat wave.
Such unpleasant events always accelerate the climate change conversation. Unfortunately conversation alone won’t change anything. The David Suzuki Foundation website suggests many ways we can contribute to the solution rather than be part of the problem.
“Though you might feel like your lifestyle is insignificant compared to things like oil extraction or vehicle emissions, the choices we make in our day-to-day life — how we get around, what we eat, how we live — play a major role in slowing climate change.”
David’s weekly ‘Queen of Green’ column offers all sorts of information about how changes in little everyday activities can make a difference.
As you might expect, my brain meandered in the direction of writing, and I began thinking about my fictional characters and their lifestyles. It’s never good to preach at our readers — most don’t appreciate being hit with blatant ‘thou shalt’ or ‘thou shalt not’ messages — but characters who display responsible preferences within a story can set subtle examples of good habits and stewardship.
I know one author who quite successfully writes novels to share her passions. Valerie Comer calls herself “a farmer, locavore, beekeeper…and the author of the Farm Fresh Romance series, farm lit from a Christian worldview.” She combines her storytelling abilities with her preference for locally grown food and her Christian faith, to produce wholesome fiction with an underlying message.
The inspirational genres are popular with Christian readers. What other authors and/or books do you know of that combine storytelling with a passion for something worthwhile?
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MUSINGS 
Why shouldn’t a protagonist be environmentally conscience? Another reason to admire them and keep them fresh in our memories. Hi Carol. Thinking of you. Wishing you and the entire area clean air.
Thanks, Joylene. With your recent experience of the Little Bobtail Lake fire I know you can relate well to our concerns.
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Carol! We are a lot further east in the province than you are, but our skies are gray with a shadow of smoke as well. None super close, thankfully, but still a worrisome year for BC.
The whole province is so dry this year that it doesn’t matter where you live, you’re affecting in some way.