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All Her Beings

By September 23, 2025No Comments

In 2022, when I graduated from seminary, I made a personal vow of ministry. I committed to caring for the Earth and all her beings. “All her beings” was a pretty big ask. After all, there are around 7.8 million species of animals, close to 300,000 plant species, 600,000 different kinds of fungi, and at least 5 million insect species [1], and countless individuals of each. (Well, except for those species on the brink of disappearing. We can count those individuals.) And I’m still not sure if the stone people count as beings.

I mentioned in my last post that I chose the words of my vow carefully, but I may have been overenthusiastic with the “all her beings” thing. Can I actually care for every living thing? I struggle, sometimes, to be compassionate with some of my fellow humans. Interestingly, that struggle arises from my perceived lack of care by those humans for the rest of life. Yes, every animal has to eat and eating often involves killing other beings. Modern humans can be thoughtless about it, though, squashing squirrels or turtles on the road while driving to the grocery store to pick up chicken someone else slaughtered for them. When someone asks why I chose to be vegan I say that it is all I can do to reciprocate for the lack of attention of others.

For me, my commitment to care for all the Earth’s beings is my way of not discriminating against any. I can admit to unconsciously swatting mosquitoes who bite me and, a few times, running over a squirrel. And if compassionate care means remembering to water my houseplants on a regular schedule, I have a few strikes against me. I am far from a shining example of absolute compassion for all beings. If anything, I am a work in progress. I am striving, though, to recognize the suffering of and extend care to all beings, and the Earth, who I consider animate as the living biosphere. And that is still a pretty big ask.

 

Reference:

  1. Wiens JJ. How many species are there on Earth? Progress and problems. PLoS Biol. 2023 Nov 20;21(11):e3002388. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002388. PMID: 37983223; PMCID: PMC10659151.