“Practicing peace with creation starts small. It begins with gratitude. When I wake up and see the sun rising over the hills, I whisper a prayer of thanks.” (PC: Pixabay)
When I think about "peace with creation," I imagine a world where humanity no longer sees nature as something to conquer, but something to cherish. I imagine walking through a forest without hearing the hum of chainsaws in the distance. I imagine oceans unchoked by plastic, skies no longer veiled in smoke, and children - especially children - being able to look at a tree or a butterfly and see a friend, not just a thing. For me, peace with creation is more than a dream. It’s a calling. It’s part of my faith, my identity, and my future.
As a Christian, I believe God entrusted us with the care of His creation - not as owners, but as stewards. In Genesis, we’re told that God saw everything He had made, “and it was very good.” That means every tree, every river, every living creature is an intentional masterpiece. But somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten this. We’ve prioritised profit over purity, speed over sustainability, and comfort over compassion. To be at peace with creation, we must remember that the earth is not ours to exploit - it’s God’s, and we are the caretakers of His creation.
Practicing peace with creation starts small. It begins with gratitude. When I wake up and see the sun rising over the hills, I whisper a prayer of thanks. When I refill my reusable water bottle or pick up rubbish, I’m not just doing something “eco-friendly” - I’m honoring God. Peace with creation also looks like learning: educating ourselves about how our choices affect the environment, and then making changes, even when they’re inconvenient. Sometimes that means saying no to fast fashion or choosing to bike ride instead of drive. It’s not always easy, but living in alignment with our values rarely is.
One reason I’m so passionate about this topic is because I believe children and young people have a unique role to play. We are growing up in a world that is both breathtakingly beautiful and deeply broken. Many of us feel this tension every day - between hope and heartbreak, action and apathy. Reconnecting with creation is not just healing for the planet; it’s healing for us, too. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. It teaches us to slow down, to listen, and to see God’s fingerprints in the smallest of things. When a child plants a tree or watches a butterfly land on their finger, they experience wonder - and in that wonder, they meet the Creator.
Ultimately, peace with creation is not just about preserving forests or cleaning oceans. It’s about restoring a right relationship - with nature, with each other, and with God. As a young woman of faith, I believe that loving creation is a form of worship. It’s an act of obedience and a sign of hope. And while I may be just one voice, I believe that when enough of us speak - and act - with love and conviction, we can turn this world around.
So, let’s return to the garden - not just in memory, but in mission. Let’s walk gently, live thankfully, and fight fiercely for the world God entrusted to us. Because peace with creation isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a holy responsibility.
Mylah Hunt - Sacred Heart College, Geelong
1st Prize Essay Category
