I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? – Psalms 121:1
There’s time to still register for the WYOMING ASSOCIATION OF CHURCHES’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATING WYOMING’S DIVERSITY this Friday and Saturday, OCTOBER 14-15, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Casper. Register now.
Wyoming is blessed with public lands providing access for recreation or re-creation. The mountains, the streams and the open blue skies are why I moved to Wyoming nearly thirty years ago. For years before that, I had come to Wyoming many summers from where I then lived in the Midwest for backpacking trips.
For the first couple of days of a backpacking trip, I still would be thinking of the work I had left behind at my law office and what I needed to do when I got back. But that would soon change when being in nature with only what fit in my pack – a couple of books, my journal, a camera, camping equipment and food. I hiked once for 17 days away from my car. I was restored.
I am pleased that the Sacred Ground Team of the Wyoming Association of Churches had the foresight to recognize the value of our public lands and keeping them as “our land.” The team after deliberation and educating themselves brought a resolution on public lands to WAC’s April board meeting where it passed unanimously. Therefore, the following resolution will be voted upon by our membership at our annual business meeting this Friday:
Resolved that the Wyoming Association of Churches join with a coalition of Wyoming and national organizations to oppose efforts at both the state and national level to cede the nation’s public lands over to state control. This includes all lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service.
The resolution is very timely. Some members of the Wyoming State Legislature are aggressively moving ahead with a study and proposal for Wyoming to take state control of federal lands. The topic is on the agenda of a select legislative committee meeting in Riverton on November 9th. A rally is being planned by groups representing outdoor enthusiasts’ interests for Saturday, November 5th in Casper in opposition to the legislative proposal.
Wyoming is blessed with our public lands. Do we want our re-creation resources to remain?
I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
If you have not registered yet, it’s not too late to join us for our annual events in Casper. $155 covers all events, $50 for the banquet only and $35 for ½ days (no meals) on either Friday or Saturday. To view the screening of the film, Dream On, Thursday evening at 7 pm or Saturday afternoon at 3 pm is free. For more information, go to our website at www.wyochurches.org.
Fear not. Be bold. Do justice.
Blessings,
Chesie Lee