Originally posted on April 23, 2012. Updated on April 19, 2018.

Today, we are looking for ways to protect our planet and build a sustainable future. But the solution lies deeper than at the bottom of a recycling bin.

We are facing the question of stewardship. To become better stewards of our environment, we need to cultivate our relationship with the natural world.

Without first-hand experiences with creation we become detached from the value of the natural world. A fisherman knows the footprint he leaves when he catches a fish. If you’ve planted a seed and nurtured it to fruition, helped a sow give birth to her calf, or caught and cleaned a trout for dinner, you have experienced the delicate relationship we have with the natural world.

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon admires the majesty of creation during a trek through the mountains.

The first step to becoming better stewards of this earth is to go out and get to know the life on this earth. Those experiences will help us gain a deeper understanding of who we are and the role we play in learning how to live in harmony with our earth.

American environmental lawyer, Gus Speth, once said, “I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy… to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation.”

When we understand the beauty of the world we live in, we expand our gratitude for it, providing the fuel and passion that is combined with the knowledge to come up with creative solutions and innovations.

We become better stewards of this earth when we become aware of our mark on the ecosystem. The natural world gives us and teaches us so much. If we knew how intimately we are related to the local plants, animals and waterways, we would better preserve and serve those ecosystems.

What are ways you can become a better steward for the environment this International Mother Earth Day?

MORE: 4 Lessons on Leadership from Mother Nature

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Creation is a composition of great diversity.
credits: freedigitalphotos.net

Creation and humanity is God’s grand masterpiece. Every moment will be filled with awe if everyone sees the world and humanity from this perspective.

A canvas filled with the same color, the same shape, and the same texture makes a pretty bland picture. But what if you accentuate the canvas with different colors, textures and movement? You have a masterpiece.

Creation is a composition of great diversity. Deep in the mountains you see many colors, feel many textures, and smell many aromas. Your senses are fully stimulated. A picture with such variety is profoundly beautiful. Each unique individual part is also exciting. That’s why spending time in the wilderness is such a joy. Every single day reveals new and fascinating things: different plants and foliage, animals and birds, terrains and waterways.

Humanity is the same. The amazing variety of ethnicities and cultures add color and texture. Every person is part of God’s masterpiece. Everyone should appreciate diversity but recognize humanity’s common identity as one family under God.

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Many lessons about leadership can be learned from horseback riding.

I have been riding horses since I was a young boy, and I continue to learn many profound lessons from horseback riding.

Recently I’ve had some time to ride horses with my children. Here are two lessons on leadership that we learned.

You can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to your horse. A horse can immediately sense your uncertainty and fear. To ride a horse the horse must acknowledges that you are in charge. A horse is an animal of hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds of solid muscle. The only reason why it would allow a 100-200 pound person to control it is if it recognizes your authority. But that certainty doesn’t come from physical size or force, it comes from your spirit. If the rider’s mind is unsettled, even simple exercise become major ordeals. Thus, it is important for a rider to know his mind and keep it stable. No matter how you pretend, your horse can see right through you. Your spirit influences how well you can ride. If a horse can’t respect you, if it can’t trust you, it will not allow you to lead.

There are no shortcuts to becoming a good rider. It takes patience and sincere investment into yourself and your relationship with your horse. To be a good rider, you have to genuinely care about your horse and be certain of yourself and the direction in which you are leading. Only then can you and the horse become one. It is the same with people. There are no shortcuts to leadership. You can pretend to lead, but in the end, only genuine people of character and vision can really move people’s hearts.

We should expose ourselves and our children to such first-hand, experiential learning opportunities with nature. These experiences teach not just our minds, but our body and soul the principles of the universe.

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