Review: Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols

My wife works as an aquatic rehabilitation therapist, and each year at Christmas, she and her coworkers exchange gifts. This year, one of the items she received was a book called Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, Or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, And Better At What You Do by Wallace J. Nichols. When I saw the book, I have to admit I was a little intrigued. Even though it is Jamie and not I who spends much of the day in or near water, I really wanted to read what this book had to say. Anything that seems to offer me an opportunity to live better piques my interest, and so I was really curious what Mr. Nichols might have to say.

The book did not follow the path I had expected. I expected to learn more about how Jamie's job in the pool was simply adding to her joy and helping her to care for others better (but, with or without the book saying so, I know that it is). What I found was an amalgamation of different threads. Mr. Nichols clearly has a deep love for our liquid planet, and rather than just writing a book about why we should work to preserve and protect our waterways, he wrote a book that looks at strong data to make his argument. Personally, I love the angle he takes. Unfortunately, it is a little too easy to be written off as an 'environmentalist' or 'sentimentalist' when a person talks about taking steps to be a good steward of the created world. Unfortunately, the truth is that more and more of us are losing a sense of connectedness to the world around us. And not just to the world around us, but to the creatures, even the people who live around us. We are growing more isolated and more stressed, and we are starting to diminish our care for other things all in the name of efficiency.

Mr. Nichols' book shows us that there is, not surprisingly, a connection to our mental wellness and the time we spend in the creation. Not only is there a connection to our mental wellness based on time in creation, but, our time near water brings even higher levels of brain activity in the places where we need it most. Time spent on or near water has been shown to help rehabilitate those with PTSD and even people who are struggling with addictions. And yet, so few people make time to spend in or near the water.

One thing I was not clear about, but I assume there is at least a corollary relationship, is whether it matters if the water is from a "natural" source like a river or ocean, or if my wife's time in the pool is equally beneficial. My guess is that it is less beneficial, but that it is definitely better than being away from water altogether.

The book ends with what I believe is a tangent from the main thesis, but it is still a powerful point of connection. Mr. Nichols carries blue marbles with him when he speaks, and gives them to his audience. As he shares data about our blue planet and how spending time near the water benefits us, he takes his listeners down a different path with the marble. He encourages listeners and readers to reflect with gratitude for all of the memories we have made in, near, on, or under water, and then to think of one person for whom we are grateful. As we bring the person to mind, he suggests giving them the marble, and telling them how grateful we are for that person.

While it seems a tangent, I believe that it is an important gift to carry for this reason. When we are grateful, not only are we mentally better, but one small point of gratitude can help us to bring our entire life under the sway of gratitude. When we are thankful, we are more considerate, and that level of consideration extends toward every person or thing we encounter. By associating his audience's gratitude for a person with a blue marble that represents the earth, one cannot help but feel a bit of gratitude for the life we have been able to live on this blue planet, and to develop a "blue mind" in the process.

I recommend the book for anyone who cares about our planet and our waterways, and even for those who don't. Because if one doesn't care, maybe taking a look at all of the benefit we glean from this watery world might nudge one to a greater sense of gratitude and care for the gift of water.

May we each find some space to sit near, on, in, or under the water in the days and weeks ahead, and, as a result, may we find ourselves filled with gratitude, hope, peace, rest, and refreshment, so that we can bring our very best selves to this world around us.

Pope Francis and His Encouragement To Us All At The United Nations

This morning, as the Pope took time to address the United Nations during his visit to the United States, he seemed to be speaking to a number of issues that have been on mine and Jamie’s hearts and minds for quite some time. I’m personally very grateful that Pope Francis is using his position, popularity, and influence to entreat the consciences of the global community. To read his full speech, click here.

First let’s consider his remarks regarding care of our common home. There will be some who want to transform the Pope’s statement into a debate with regard to whether climate change is real. But maybe rather than debating climate change, we should each realize we have a sacred responsibility to care for and wisely steward the limited resources of this world. What would it look like for each of us to begin to live more simply, and take into account the impact of every decision from travel, to energy usage, to the very products we purchase? What would it look like for you to live more simply? Is there a step you can take to be a better steward?

Although I started this post talking about the Pope’s perspective on environmental care, I have long believed that care for this earth is directly connected to care for our neighbors. Not just our neighbors in the here and now, but those who have not yet been born. In many Native American traditions, including my own, we are encouraged to consider the impact of our decisions on future generations. There is very little in the way we are culturally encouraged to live that encourages long-term impact. We gravitate to the immediate because it is convenient. We have become a self-indulgent culture with little concern for how our actions and activities have an impact on others. We have become polluters, not only of the environment, but of the very essence of shalom in this world.

And what does it mean to care for our neighbor? If you live in America, by default you are in at least the 95% percentile of the wealthiest people in the world. You are one of the top five percent of the global rich. So what does it mean to care for our neighbors who are poor? I believe it means that we practice a discipline of generosity. We look for opportunities to serve and to invest in the lives of others. We resist the tendency to care for ourselves first.

We live in a complex and complicated world. But we can exercise self-discipline and choose to live lives of greater simplicity. We can choose to live lives that are unencumbered by excess material goods. We can choose to resist the almost fanatical devotion our culture has to collecting stuff, generating waste, and treating people and things as disposable resources. Every person on this earth was created by God for a unique purpose. Every thing on this earth has been entrusted to us by an abundantly generous Creator who encourages us to care for this world, and calls us to greater dedication to wise stewardship.

The Pope, through his words, is encouraging us to consider the great power and influence each one of us has in this world. Instead of our own indulgences, what if we were using that power and influence to facilitate the improvement of the lives of our global neighbors. What if we were dedicating time and energy to equipping others with the tools they need to improve their lives, to be able to make meaningful choices, choices most of us take for granted?

May we take decisive action to be better stewards of this earth that has been entrusted to our care by the Creator of the universe. May we take decisive action to lower our ecological footprints. May we be a people who are not just “concerned” for our neighbors living in extreme poverty, but may we be people who are actively engaged in recognizing the inherent dignity of every person on this earth and working toward a better world for all.  May we use the power and influence we have been entrusted with to build a better world for others, for future generations, and for those who, for a number of reasons, we will likely never meet. And, quite simply, as we go about our day, today may we consider others around us more important than ourselves.

Martin Luther King Day 2013

For the last few years, as this holiday approaches, I like to take time to read speeches watch videos and reflect on the outcome of the efforts and life of Dr. King and other activists and ambassadors for justice in our world.

I remember reading a few years back that Dr. Martin LutherKing Day was initially meant to be dedicated as a day of service in our communities and in our world. And as I write this note, it is my hope that more people will take the day as an opportunity to either serve actively immediately or begin reflecting on where they may be called to serve.

In the words of Dr. King, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Those words echo the teachings of Jesus, “The greatest among you will be the servant of all.”

So today, I encourage you, look for opportunities to serve. As we celebrate the life, mission, and vision of Dr. King, may we each find a place to serve. There are many great needs in this world, including extremepoverty, slavery, and the environment. The world needs passionate and purposeful people who will make daily commitments to justice and to service.

You and I may never have the platform, the reach, or the impact of Dr. King, but that isn’t why we should ever do anything. We should pursue justice because it is the right thing to do, and, again in the words of Dr. King, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

May we all be people who resolve to follow the example of Dr. King and others, and to strive to faithfully live out the words of the ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah and “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Morgantown West Virginia Is Expanding Its Recycling Program!

Late last week, I received a letter in the mail from Morgantown's City Office Manager, Terrence Moore, announcing some incredible news. Morgantown has launched a full scale curbside recycling program. This is outstanding news and a big leap forward for our community’s efforts to take better care of the planet.

Why am I so excited about this? For a long time, recycling has been something I have cared about (to varying degrees). When I was a kid, I used to walk along river banks and through neighborhoods to pick up aluminum cans. Part of this was good for the environment, and part of it was good for me to have some money for baseball cards and things like that. When I was a freshman at WVU, I worked hard to get a recycling program initiated in the residence halls. It had some fits and starts during my undergraduate era, but now, I’m excited to say that the university has an incredible focus on recycling and sustainability efforts.

Separately, in 2006, I found out my mom had breast cancer. She went to be with Jesus about a year later. Incidence of cancer has risen drastically over the last 20-30 years. My wife’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last year while we were on our honeymoon. Three of my dad’s living siblings have had cancer. My sister has had cancer. I’m sure you can think of folks who are close to you as well. In my reading, one of the leading contributors to cancer is believed to be environmental issues. When I made that discovery, I began to look really closely at my own energy consumption habits as well as the amount of waste I was producing.

At the time I lived with roommates, and we had gatherings at our house on a regular basis. We produced a lot of materials that went in the garbage. We started recycling back then. It would take 2-3 weeks to fill our garbage can after we started recycling. It occurred to me as I made trips to the local recycling center that my roommates and I could reduce the speed at which landfills would fill by choosing to recycle. From everything I’ve read, it takes significantly energy to recycle some materials than it does to produce new materials. Some materials take a really long time to begin to break down, and those same materials can be recycled fairly easily.

Now, my wife and I continue to recycle. As a result, we fill an eight-gallon trash bag with non-recyclable material about one or two times per month.  Our recyclables require us to fill our car once per month to take it to the recycling center.

All that being said, the biggest reason I’m excited about this recycling program is that it appears to be really easy. During the week of December 10, 2012, residents will receive a 65 gallon recycling cart. Service will start the week of January 7, 2013.

The program will recycle just about everything. Aluminum cans, all colors and shapes of glass, corrugated cardboard, newsprint and inserts, steel cans, plastics #1-6, paperback books/phone books, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, pizza box lids, and even dry food and tissue boxes.

I’m excited for this incredible new development for the city of Morgantown, for the environment, and for future generations who will appreciate the efforts of our generation to wisely steward the resources which which we have been entrusted

Jeni’s Ice Cream and Northstar Café

Recently, I was in Columbus, Ohio for a few days to visit with my best friend in the whole world, Willie, for Jamie to attend a baby shower for one of her closest friends, Ally, and to meet with a few Nuru supporters in the area. While I was there, Willie and some other friends made it a point to introduce me to a couple of their favorite Columbus businesses.

The first on the list has to be Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in Bexley. Jeni is a local Columbus business woman who has developed an array of gourmet and specialty ice creams with flavors including Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Goat Cheese With Red Cherries,  and Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries. The eclectic mix of flavors is brought about through natural ingredients, including local organic milk from grassfed cattle. If you are in Columbus, I highly recommend giving Jeni’s Ice Cream a try. My personal favorite is the Brown Butter Almond Brittle, but I must confess that I usually sample four to six different flavors when I visit.

I also had the privilege of visiting the Northstar Café in the Easton Town Center. My friends Faith and Mike introduced Jamie and me to this great local restaurant. The food was incredible and incredibly healthy. They charge a little bit more for their food, but they have set up their café so that tips aren’t part of the protocol, and, much like Jeni’s Ice Cream, they choose locally grown and natural ingredients. From what I’ve been able to gather, they even thought through the long term impact of the materials they choose for building out their restaurant space.

I probably could have dedicated separate entries for each of these businesses, but I thought I would lump them together for their similar philosophies. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to visit both spaces with friends and experience a bit of the local flavor of Columbus. Interestingly, while Jamie was at Ally’s baby shower, I randomly walked into a bookstore where Jeni was signing copies of her new book. 

While I didn’t get in line for an autograph, I did get an autographed copy of my friend Faith’s book, Not Your Mother’s Casseroles but I’ll have to save my comments on her book for another delicious post.

What are some of the local businesses in your neck of the woods that you would recommend?

SustainU Clothing

Change your clothes. Change your world. from sustainU on Vimeo.


Not too long ago, a few of my friends embarked on a pioneering journey to encourage people to think about the clothes they wear, how the production of those clothes impact the environment, and how it could all change for the better.  Out of this journey, SustainU clothing was born.  SustainU is a company who specializes in making clothes here in the United States and they work specifically to produce their clothing line from recycled materials.  This company is headquartered in Morgantown, WV and many members of their team are from this great state.

Right now, they are embarking on a campaign to save about 150 tons of clothing from landfills through a campaign called the ONEshirt campaign.  They are encouraging college students across the country to participate in a clothing drive to reduce waste, and encourage all of us to think a little more deeply about our choices when it comes to what we wear.  There are currently over 100 campuses involved in the campaign.  By the way, did you know that 10% of the content of landfills is clothing?

Take a little time, and watch the video, and think about how changing your clothing just might change the world.  Maybe it's time to get rid of some of those clothes you haven't worn in the last two years.  Let someone else give em a try.  And maybe, next time you are looking to purchase clothing, consider making a statement and grabbing something from the Sustain U catalog.

Ivory Soap

Ivory Soap, originally uploaded by Bravo Six Niner Delta.

About a month or so ago, I read this blog post about how people had started using dilute vinegar and baking soda solutions to wash and condition their hair, and it really got me thinking about my own use of shampoo and conditioner. The article talked about how shampoo was a fairly recent innovation, and how conditioner was necessary to replenish the natural oils that one loses by use of shampoo. The article went on to describe how there is a period of 1-2 weeks that one will experience really oily hair as the body adjusts to not having to make up for its loss of oil.
Since my roommate Derek and I started a road trip at the beginning of July, I thought I would try going without shampoo and just using soap instead. It’s been an interesting adjustment for sure.
Two weeks into my new washing regimen, I talked to my dad about his use of shampoo. He said he rarely uses it, but rather uses soap, and has for most of his life. I took his experience as a confirmation of sorts that maybe I didn’t need shampoo and conditioner. The irony is that I had just purchased some eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner, and now I may just be saving it for special occasions.
My latest conundrum has been with regard to what soap to use. I looked at some castille soap, and considered buying a bar, but then I thought back to my childhood and ivory soap. I read the ingredients, and they seemed simple enough, so I’ve started using Ivory again for the first time since my childhood.
I’m not sure I’ll stick with it, in fact, I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding soaps and shampoos. (I hear that some people make their own soap out of olive oil or coconut oil too!)
Derek just made up some laundry detergent using Ivory soap, borax, washing soda, and water. I’m curious as to how it will work. It ends up costing us about a penny/load to use this detergent in our front loading washer.
The irony of this post, is that I hadn’t intended to write about all of these uses of Ivory, but I felt I should explain before telling you about my olfactory memory and using the soap for the first time since childhood. The aroma took me back to learning to wash my face and body in the bathroom sink alongside my dad. As I breathed in, I found myself remembering being little, and putting the soap in a washrag and lathering it up as I scrubbed my face and arms after playing all evening in the dirt. I can remember our little bathroom on fifteenth street, and moving from an old bathtub with feet to a shower during my gradeschool years. I remember my dad standing at the mirror with me and we would wash at the same time—I think partially because much like many little boys, I avoided washing like the plague (after all, my dirt was a badge of honor and a mark of the fun I had while playing—plus sometimes soap would get in my eyes and burn). Then he would take a cup full of some kind of magic concoction, and wave a brush in it, and then he would use the brush to apply this concoction to his face—his shaving cream wasn’t in a can, but a cup.
Because we only used Ivory growing up, it’s aroma is one I identify with what “clean” smells like, and it’s one that brings back many memories of our life growing up before the days of the internet, blogging, facebook, and twitter. It reminds me of catching fireflies, eating cherry pie made from the cherries out of our back yard, and swinging on our old rope swing. It was usually before or after those summer events that I would find myself lathering up and cleaning up.
Hope that your week is off to a “clean” start, and that it is filled with aroma’s that evoke nostalgia.

Uncle Bob and Fighting Cancer

On Saturday, I took a trip to Washington DC with an old friend. Among the many topics we talked about as we drove were healthcare, the environment, and the increasing incidence of cancer in our world.

Last night, I was reading a book by Wendell Berry that included an essay that was called "The Unsettling of America" and it told the story of colonization in the United States. It started with the displacement of the Native American peoples for the sake of progress, and then told of another displacement for the sake of industry. Early agrarian settlers, and even current farmers are facing a fight to maintain a simpler way of life. All of the displacement is said to be done in the name of progress, but now in our generation, there is a fee associated with all of our basic needs--food, clothing, shelter, water, and air. Of course we don't have to buy air, but we pay a price for it in the way of pollution.

So what does this have to do with my uncle and cancer? Well, I have a pretty strong conviction that the reason why cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent because of the way we live. We eat and drink things that are not the best for us. We breathe air that is contaminated with mutagens and pollutants, and while our water is supposed to uphold certain standards, I've heard many around the globe complain about the strange taste of their tap water in recent years. Many of the choices we are making in the name of "progress" may be giving us short term successes but may also be contributing to our long term destruction through slowly poisoning our bodies and maybe even our inmost being.

And yesterday, I received a call from my dad. He told me that my Uncle Bob is in the University of Michigan medical center with stomach cancer. He has two to three months left on this earth. It seems like some form of cancer has latched hold of nearly every member of my family. My brother, my dad, and myself seem to be the only remaining ones who haven't had to get some form of cancer reduced or removed, or worse yet, have lost their lives to this ugly malaise.

My uncle Bob is a man of serious faith, and he has raised his family with the same deep faith. Right now, I want to ask you to stop reading for a minute, and if you would be willing, pray for my uncle and his family. I know that the the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working, and this could be one of the greatest acts of support you could demonstrate toward my uncle and his family.

My uncle Bob and his family have faithfully read this blog for many years, and although they have lived pretty far away for most of my life, this little outpost on the web has helped them stay connected with family events through the years. I don't know my uncle well, but I am really bothered by the challenges being imposed by aggressive inoperable cancer in his stomach right now. I know that his is not the only fight being fought right now against cancer, but there's something immediately disconcerting and alarming when we discover a loved one suffers.

May the Spirit of the living God heal, comfort, and guide my Uncle Bob, his wife, and his daughter, as they look to Him for those things and more.

And for the rest of us, may we all fight the good fight and finish the race well.

Ecological Impact

What if we knew all of the hands and chemicals and processes that took place to make the products that we use and consume on a daily basis? In a recent Wall Street Journal article, there's talk of people being able to do just that.

I included the image of a really great book on environmental conservation from a faith perspective that was written by Dr. Matthew Sleeth, an ER doctor who left his vocation to become an advocate for the faith community in particular, and for all people to take the role of environmental stewardship more seriously. I highly recommend you give his book a read--it is full of great information on why we should be better stewards as well as practical tips on how to take steps to decrease one's ecological footprint.

So what's the latest on Wall Street? The idea is that major garment manufacturers are talking of providing a greater degree of transparency in their manufacturing processes and so consumers can have a greater degree of understanding of the environmental stewardship practices of different companies.

As I was reading the article, I started thinking about the past. I don't remember a time like this, but I bet it wasn't too long ago when people knew where their products came from. I think we have this blind trust in corporations that they are always ethical in their business practices, and they try to care for people every step of the way. We make assumptions that the products we buy and consume are done really inexpensively both in labor and in ecological impact. I wonder how a tag on clothing or other products might change our spending and consumption habits.

Have you ever given much thought to where your stuff comes from? If you've got some extra time, check out this older post from 2008 and watch The Story of Stuff. I know that each time I make a purchase, I tend to think more about the long term impact of the purchase. I also try to buy products from companies who are working to improve their environmental care, or who have a long track record of ecological stewardship.

Do you think labels that share the environmental impact of the making of a pair of shoes or pants will cause us to think more about our purchases? What are some ways that you practice care for the world write now?

Can One Person Really Make A Difference?

Morgantown Community Recycling Center, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

On Saturday morning, I participated in "Tire Amnesty Day" in Monongalia County by taking a few old car and bicycle tires to Sam's Club in Granville to be recycled. Usually there is a small fee associated with such efforts, but this past Saturday, it was free. I thought I would take advantage of the oppportunity to rid myself of some of the tires that various roommates have left at the house over the years, and do a good turn for the environment.

While I was there, I received an info packet containing ways to recycle virtually everything I might ever want to get rid of. Unfortunately it was packaged in what looked like a non-recyclable (at least locally) #4 plastic bag. Bummer if so, but maybe it is a compostable bag. In one of the pamplets it listed the top ten myths about recycling. The #1 myth is "One person can't make a difference."

Here's the Monongalia Solid Waste Authority's response to that statement.

In [Monongalia county], one person makes a big difference in the recycling rate. Each day, one person in WV generates 4.07 pounds of trash, which becomes 1485 pounds over a whole year. About 48% of this trash is recyclable.

This means, in one person has the potentialto recycle:
332 pounds of cardboard and paper products
74 pounds of metals
193 pounds of plastic
116 pounds of glass

Averaging current yearly recycling rates over the county population, one Monongalia County resident actually recycles:
49 pounds of cardboard and paper products
3 pounds of metals
3 pounds of plastic
12 pounds of glass

Even though a very small percentage of this county's population is currently recycling, in the past year, this small effort has saved:
1.9 million kilowatt hours of energy (enough to power 174 homes in WV)
171,596 gallons of oil
81,797 trees.


One person really can make a difference. Imagine if you recycled. Imagine if your business recycled. Imagine the possible energy savings and the positive good that YOU would be doing for future generations, whether you live in Monongalia County, WV or some other part of the world.

Today, may you take the time to begin to make your contribution to bettering this world.

Gas Under $2?

Gas Under $2?, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

I think I finally figured it out. Why would John Beilein and Rich Rodriguez both move from Morgantown to Michigan? After my recent trip to Ann Arbor, the answer is obvious. Gas prices. What I remember of both of them while they lived in Morgantown is that they drove SUVs. SUV's don't get very good gas mileage. Just like the rest of america, escalating gas prices drove them to make some lifestyle changes.

The photo above was seriously taken on Thursday. That's where I bought gas to head back to west virginia yesterday morning. They couldn't get me to discard my loyalties just by saving cash on gas--that's why I drive a hybrid--it takes away that temptation.

Back in Morgantown the prices were significantly higher. $2.39 when I came in town yesterday. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and I understand that prices are somewhat market driven and vary from location to location due to factors beyond my understanding.

Regardless, gas for less than $2 was a treat. But I don't plan on making the trip back any time soon for that treat. It's a nice place to visit (and buy cheap gas), but I just love these west virginia hills too much.

Of course life is more than gas prices, right? I hope you can enjoy the little things as your week comes to an end, but at the same time--remember that's not your treasure!

That's Our Town

That's Our Town, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

I took this photo of some construction happening in Morgantown during the days before the students came back. These folks were working on the westover bridge late at night.

I like that image. I like the idea that we work, and we do it often behind the scenes so our environments might improve. I feel like the last few weeks has been much of the same for me personally and in ministry.

For me, over the last several weeks I have been spending greater amounts of time in prayer and the word. Really, what is our life in Christ without prayer and the word. I'm fighting zealously to be disciplined in taking extended times with the LORD that I might have words to encourage others.

I've also been working hard to discipline myself in my eating, sleeping, exercising, and relaxing. I tend to go pretty full bore most of the time. Of course I take a sabbath but other than that, I tend to always be going. Because for the last seven years I have used my bedroom as an office, it has made it hard to relax. I get up, and work is right there. I go to bed often times working on some project. I'm learning to slow down and separate; I'm learning to make my home a place to live, and to enjoy my wonderful roommates. I'm also being disciplined about regular exercise normal eating (read that as NOT HUGE AMERICAN PORTIONS), and consistent sleeping/waking.

Also, since February i've been working with my friends Trey, Mark, Cameron, and about a dozen other guys to think about ways we can improve the way people ages 18-35 in morgantown get connected to community and begin to contribute to improving this world. We've had a lot of dialogue and in the end we have eliminated a number of meetings so we can have one great event that helps young married couples, young professionals, and college students connect in biblical community. As our church grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to connect, and so we are creating environments and systems to help folks connect.

What about you? What environments are you improving? How are you better focusing your life so you might bring greater glory to the King? Consider as you go through this day, the ways you can improve the environment around you. The Son of Man didn't come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

As we live out this life of faith, let's strive together to make the changes necessary so that we might have something to offer the world around us that is truly worthwhile and world-changing.