Listening to the Wind
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old, they will not depart from it.”
— (Proverbs 22:6)
In the book Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth, Chief Oren Lyons, a wisdom keeper of the Onondaga Nation, shared a powerful teaching from his elders: the earth itself will show us when it is in distress. Two signs, they said, would reveal the depth of our degradation. First, the winds would accelerate—growing faster, stronger, and more destructive. Second, how we treat our children would reveal how far we’ve strayed from harmony with the earth and one another.
Today, these warnings feel uncomfortably close to home. Winds of over 100 miles per hour have fueled the most destructive natural disaster in California’s history. Hurricanes have battered the east coast, leaving paths of destruction in their wake. And in our communities, the headlines remind us that we have failed to protect our children. School shootings, systemic inequalities, and an overwhelming mental health crisis tell a story of neglect and misplaced priorities.
The winds are high, and our children are suffering.
As people of faith, we are called to listen—to the cries of the earth and the needs of the most vulnerable among us. The Bible is clear about God’s care for children, who are among the most precious and vulnerable of creation. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14). His teachings remind us that to care for children is to honor God.
But caring for children goes beyond the personal; it requires collective action. It calls us to advocate for systems and policies prioritizing their safety, education, and well-being. It asks us to create a world where children can grow in love and security, not in fear of violence or environmental disaster.
Chief Lyons’s wisdom reminds us that the degradation of the earth and the neglect of children are intertwined. When we fail to protect the earth, we fail to protect our children’s future. When we disregard their well-being, we perpetuate a cycle of harm that impacts generations.
The winds are speaking to us. Are we listening? We are in this together.
The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is providing these Tips as a tool to equip church members, families, and individuals to respond to God’s call to care for creation and do justice with our neighbors. For more about the UM Creation Justice Movement, go to umcreationjustice.org.