Being Green

First it was the kids at school.

And then it was the preacher at church.

See, the thing is, I don't like to drink water from a glass or a cup unless it is part of a meal. And I've been told repeatedly how important it is to drink sufficient water throughout the day. So the whole bottled water craze has been wonderful for me. I keep a bottle on my desk, one in my car, one at the computer at home. And I drink enough water! Early on it struck me that it was expensive to continue to buy bottles of water, and so I took to refilling them from the water fountain or from the kitchen faucet (can't drink water from the bathroom tap, but that's a whole nuther issue). Would refill 10-12 times and then get a new bottle.

The kids at school, unsatisfied that the only recycling we were doing was paper, demanded that the school acquire comingled recycling containers for plastic beverage bottles and aluminum soda cans. This was great. Then someone noticed how quickly the containers were filling up, how many empty plastic water bottles are discarded each day. I began to feel some pangs of conscience. I tried refilling my bottles more times. I tried getting up from my desk and going to the fountain.

Then last week at church we had a sermon -- a part of a series on stewardship -- on environmental stewardship. The preacher provided a Lenten challenge: that instead of giving up cookies or some such for Lent, to choose to make a change that would benefit the environment. And that was when I knew it was time.

Now I have a quart-size permanent -- not disposable, not recycleable -- water bottle on my desk. In the morning I go to the cafeteria and fill it half-way with ice and then the rest of the way with water. Stays nice and cold until lunchtime when I get to do it all over again. Two more, one for home and one for the car, will complete the set-up.

Kermit was right: It may not be easy being green, but it has to be done!