The future is uncertain. But flourishing doesn’t have to be.
We know without a doubt that humans have power to change the earth in lasting ways. Climate change is not a niche issue: it is the unfolding story of our embodied lives. As we join in with the groaning of creation, we wonder how we and coming generations will make our home in a potentially inhospitable future.
In the face of environmental and social upheaval, Tending Tomorrow lays out a path for Christians seeking courage and inspiration for the uncertain journey ahead. Drawing on metaphors from the natural world, author Leah Reesor-Keller offers foundational, transformative practices for leaders and communities to foster healthier cultures during a time of ecological devastation.
When we dig into the roots of faith and culture, and envision new interactions and patterns, we plant seeds of change. Seeds that ignite courageous imagination. Seeds that repair injustice. Seeds that nurture a tomorrow where possibilities bloom and people and planet flourish.
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...Foreword
Preface
Redreaming
1 Redreaming at the Roots
Retelling
2 Retelling Family and Spiritual Ancestry Stories
3 Retelling Creation Stories
Renewing
4 Renewing Our Hope and Transforming Despair
Reimagining
5 Reimagining Leadership
6 Reimagining Community
7 Reimagining Accountability and Repairing Harm
8 Reimagining Church as Movement
Rewilding
Rewilding and Planting Seeds for Tomorrow
Epilogue: Dear Ava
Acknowledgments
Questions for Discussion
Notes
The Author
“We are used to thinking of religion as mainly a force for tradition; this book is a timely and sprightly reminder that it can be a springboard for change as well, as long as we’re willing to reimagine the contemporary meaning of our deep roots.”
BILL MCKIBBEN, author of The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon
“Tending Tomorrow is a visionary call to action, inviting readers on a transformative journey toward a sustainable and equitable future. Merging real-life stories with deep, communal engagement, this book encourages us to reimagine our relationship with the world and our spiritual and cultural roots. It addresses the despair and hopelessness many feel in the face of polycrisis, offering a beacon of hope. Through its pages, we are guided to redream, retell, and renew our collective destiny, making it an essential read for anyone seeking hope and direction in challenging times.”
PABLO KIM SUN, senior leader for antiracism and intercultural conciliation for CRCNA and author of Who Are Our Enemies and How Do We Love Them?
“Leah Reesor-Keller weaves an intelligent and relatable vision for courageous honesty and compassionate action when faced with what truth and reconciliation ask of us. As a mother, an activist, and a Christian, she shares a pathway that can inspire our own as we collectively awaken to the challenges by radically grounding our lives in Reality rather than denial and Love rather than fear.”
VICTORIA LOORZ, founder of the Center for Wild Spirituality, cofounder of the Wild Church network, and author of Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us into the Sacred
“Tending Tomorrow is more than a book; it is a must-read and a call to action for anyone seeking inspiration and practical steps to contribute to a healthier planet. Leah Reesor-Keller inspires readers to engage in foundational practices that go beyond rhetoric, fostering real and positive change. By digging into the roots of faith and culture, we discover the potential to repair injustice and sow seeds for a better tomorrow. This book beautifully weaves together spirituality and ecological responsibility. Reesor-Keller’s insights provide a powerful appeal, urging those ready to answer to be courageous stewards of both people and the planet.”
DOROTHY NYAMBI, president and CEO of Mennonite Economic Development Associates
“In a book rich with personal stories and clear challenges, Leah Reesor-Keller accomplishes her task—guiding us in the resetting of our collective values, beliefs, and practices, moving us all toward a healthier future in which all that the Spirit sustains can thrive.”
DOUG KLASSEN, executive minister of Mennonite Church Canada
“Writing with a confidence and candor only experience can produce, Leah Reesor-Keller shows a path to the future. This book moves key conversations in the right direction.”
ANTHONY SIEGRIST, Ontario director for A Rocha Canada and author of Speaking of God: An Essential Guide to Christian Thought