Why I Care: Dan Hardaway

What About Christ’s Return?

Having been in ministry for 24 years, my focus has always been on the Gospel. Frankly, I thought that Christ was returning, and the environment was of very little concern. I thought all environmentalists were tree huggers. Only in recent years have I begun to awaken to a slightly different reality. A first step was encountering a friend named Donald Miller and his pastor ,Rick McKinley. They would talk about the environment in a way that seemed right, not radical, eccentric, or even flippant. At that point I began to be open to new ideas. It was about this time that I also decided to stop listening to AM radio. This developed from a question for the future: In 10 years, did I want to be more "right" or more "loving"? As my horizon broadened, so did my exposure and so did the relationships I had with the people that I was praying for in my community. No longer did I feel isolated by my philosophical or political point of view. I felt like for the first time, as I have taken some very minor steps, I was engaging people who I sought to reach. Now instead of just articulating my differences, I am making progress in loving them. I've even become vigilant about rinsing out the recyclables. We are buying more efficient light bulbs and even bought a blanket for my hot water heater. Christ is still returning, and I'm not a tree hugger, but the environment is becoming an area of concern.
 
Dan Hardaway