Book Review: Under The Bright Wings
there’s hope for the planet!
In 1983 British pastor Peter Harris along with his family went to Portugal to start a Christian field study centre. Back then, he had no idea what a huge impact this step would have later on.
In his book Under the Bright Wings, Peter Harris describes how out of a deep passion for the environment, and the wish to serve God in a place with little hope for people and ecosystems, the international organisation A Rocha developed. On this journey, he rediscovered some age-old biblical truths. The Bible frequently challenges Christians to take on responsibility for the creation entrusted to us. Out of the initial contradiction between the need to take care of people versus the environment, the puzzle-pieces suddenly fell into place for Harris.
Challenging beginnings
With his distinctive British humour, but also with thoughtfulness, he narrates about the turbulent beginning years of his work in the Portuguese Algarve. There, he not only fell in love with the breathtakingly beautiful bird populations living there, but also with the village and its residents near their field study centre “Cruzinha”.
Along with his family and many others who came to join the team over the years, he lived what it means to act locally, to love one’s neighbours and fellow creatures and to discover God’s wonderful ways with us. On this journey, the Harris family experienced God’s guidance in surprising ways – sometimes more, sometimes less obviously. As Harris comments with a wink, “coincidences happen to everyone, but they seem to happen more often to Christians…”
He lived what it means to act locally, to love one’s neighbours and fellow creatures and to discover God’s wonderful ways with us.
Along with scientists and other nature-enthusiasts, the team of Cruzinha explores the unique natural diversity of the ecosystems of the Algarve. Through scientific studies and observations, the team made an important contribution to prevent the wild Alvor-valley from being destroyed.
From its beginnings, A Rocha was more than an ordinary environmental organization. For the many hundreds of people who have visited since, this place has also become a symbol of hospitality. Good food and conversations, community and a shared love for creation mark the spirit of A Rocha until today.
Becoming international
On their search for God’s plan for His Earth, Christians are rediscovering what God’s good news mean for us today. They bring peace for all of humanity and for creation. More than thirty years later, national A Rocha organisations and projects exist in over 20 countries on five continents, from Finland to Florida, from India to South Africa. A Rocha inspires religious as well as unreligious people worldwide to discover the beauty of creation, to explore and to conserve it.
I can highly recommend this eloquently written book to anyone passionate about the environment. Whether Christian or not, wether you’re seeking God’s ways for your personal life, or just curious about how the remarkable work of A Rocha all began, this book will be an inspiration to you. Even just looking at the beautiful hand-drawn illustrations in the book makes you dreamy. Humorously accompanied by a Britons remarks on embarking into Latin culture, this book was truly a pleasure to read.
You can order the book here, if you wish.
To learn more about A Rocha, have a look at this website: https://www.arocha.org/en/
Did you read the book? What are your thoughts on it? Did you read any books lately that truly inspired you? Leave a comment to let me know!
If not stated otherwise, images taken from Unsplash.com
1 thought on “Book Review: Under The Bright Wings”