From the Youth Director
As I write this article, the Marin County Fair is only two weeks away, which means I am immersed in preparations for our annual food booth fundraiser. The theme for this year’s fair is “the greenest county fair on earth.” Upon first hearing of this theme and the corresponding requirements relating to it, such as using biodegradable/recyclable materials and providing healthier food options, I must admit that I was slightly confounded. Somehow the thought of healthy food options at a fair just did not seem right. After all, a major reason why people attend fairs seems to be because it provides them with an excuse to consume “junk foods” such as cotton candy, funnel cake, and corn dogs. While I fully support the movement to promote healthier eating choices, I guess I just feel that a fair may not be the appropriate venue. Besides, it could definitely be worse; rather than selling our delicious Philly cheese steak sandwiches, we could be peddling the deep fried Twinkies that can be found at fairs across the country. I believe we have made the right decision.
Despite my questioning some of the new food requirements regarding this year’s fair, I whole-heartedly applaud our county’s efforts regarding its emphasis on proper waste management. As human beings, we were given the Divine mandate to care for God’s creation, and yet this is an obligation that we have greatly neglected to fulfill. It is important as Christians that we seek to recapture that mandate for our lives so that creation may be restored to how God intended it to be. In addition to our efforts to “go green” this summer, it is important that we do not let that Divine mandate supersede God’s two greatest commandments: to love Him and to love one another. Devotion to creation is of great importance, and yet devotion to our Creator and to our fellow creatures is of supreme importance. Therefore, while I encourage you to support our food booth at “the greenest county fair on earth” this summer, as well as to care for God’s creation in other ways, I urge us all to even more intently look for every opportunity to serve our neighbors and to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After all, it is these two, above all, for which we were created.
In Christ Alone,
Erik Gravrock