Golden are the sunbeams lighting up my way,
Golden is the meadow inviting me to play,
Golden runs the winding stream upon its way to sea,
And Golden is the morning world a joyful home for me.
Silver is the moonlight shining on my bed
Silver is the pillow on which I lay my head,
Silver are the rustling trees out in the garden fair,
And silver is the silent world with moonbeams in her hair
Gold and Silver by Mark Hayes
I sang this song in high school choir without a true understanding or appreciation for what it meant. The ballad is beautiful, graceful, and delicate; I knew to treat it with care during a performance. Thinking of the song Gold and Silver today saddens me, especially when discussions or news reports of climate change, brutal natural disasters, and destructive human interactions arise. Now, I realize that this song paints a picture of God’s creation: animals, humanity, and Earth. It also emphasizes his unceasing involvement with His gorgeous gifts. Humanity is called to see itself and its “joyful home” as a place of great works, peace, and life (Hayes).
Poor farming practices, pollution, use of fossil fuels, and other damaging human contributors have severely harmed God’s creation. To ensure humanity abides by God’s command to “subdue [the earth] and have dominion over…every living thing that moves on the earth,” humanity must drastically improve interactions with it (Genesis 1:28 ESV).
Therefore, everyday should be Earth Day. Every new day on Earth is people’s prize, a new opportunity to create and cultivate.
In order to fully grasp the holiday’s meaning, one must first revisit its origin. Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin Governor and U.S Senator, created Earth Day on April 22, 1970 to inform “more than 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 public schools, and 20 million citizens…nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population at that time,” about poor environmental standards and practices (NOAA par. 2). According to Earth Day Network, Earth Day protests and civic involvement led to the passage of legislative environmental protections such as “The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts… as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” This initiative inspired many nations around the world to follow America’s lead. In fact, the United Nations enacted the Paris Agreement on climate change on Earth Day in 2016 (Earth Day Network).
Today, we must continue to pursue the goal of subduing the Earth by controlling our behavior and finding new ways to sustain ourselves while limiting the damage we cause to the planet. More efficient farming and dietary practices, fossil fuel replacement, new energy sources, and legislative action can be taken to limit the damage to the earth’s atmosphere and the planet itself. Most importantly, humanity must understand and appreciate that God, our Gold and Silver, is ever present and involved but we too must appreciate this precious prize, “a joyful home for [you and] me ” (Hayes).
Works Cited
Earth Day Network. “Earth Day 2020 FAQ.” Earthday.org. https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. “When was the First Earth Day?” National Ocean Service, 2019. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/earth-day.html.
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