I have been watching Sky News and have seen the fires. In Portugal, South Africa, the US and now, today, and for the last few weeks in Brazil.

The Amazon.

Burning.

I don’t want to point fingers. Perhaps it’s the drought; global warming; lightning strikes. Or is it people? I reel from the thought. I find it hard to believe we have become so self-centred as a race as to destroy the very air we breathe.

What about the floods? Surely those aren’t caused by us. Are they? Is our need to rush from here the problem. The experts say this is one of the causes of carbon excess and holes in the ozone layer – a reason for global warming and the extraordinary rainfall in a matter of hours; or strong winds that destroy whole cities – countries.

I am not a political person. I am not one to stand on street corners or demonstrate outside buildings with placards.

But I know someone who lives in Peru. When I say ‘know’, we have drawn close to one another through our blogs. (You can find hers here) As the Amazon burns and the oxygen is not only burnt with it but the production of oxygen drops – will she be one of the first to feel its effect? Or will the whole world feel it instantly?

I have been to Whaley Bridge in the UK. I know the town that was threatened by the leak in the dam wall after copious rain fell recently.

I have seen the damage caused by the fires in Knysna in the Cape region of South Africa. Mile upon mile of burnt land. Home after home destroyed. Life after life lost. Even now, two years on, some homes stand in ruins, their burnt shells testimony to the devastation.

What are we doing?

What am I doing?

How can I, one person in a population of over 7 billion people in the world, make a difference? It’s like the starfish, isn’t it? Throwing one starfish out of thousands beached on the shore makes a difference to the one thrown back into the sea. Doing my small bit to fight to save the planet may only make a tiny difference. But I can.

Lord, help me to stop and think before I do anything that will cause damage to our planet – our home. Help me to be part of the solution not the cause.

Help me.

Help us, Lord.