relocalization

I've believed for a long time now that relocalization is one of the most important--maybe even the only--key to combating many of our environmental ills. That's one of the reasons why I'm always particularly excited when I see things like this--and any time I see local governments and organizations taking steps to correct problems. It's often all too easy for us to pawn off responsibility on someone else. But, well, if we don't do something, who will? Lead, and the rest will follow.

In America, globalization and free-for-all capitalism have become so closely associated with Christianity that it's hard for many people to separate them. This is a mystery to me, because in my mind they are at best uneasy bedfellows, and more often outright enemies. Isn't it still true that anyone who's a friend to the world is an enemy of God? So when did globalization become sacrosanct?

I could write a lot about the negative side of this argument, but I wanted to focus on the positive side, which is localization. Which is something I've tasted--literally--this Lent, although not quite as much as I had hoped. Nevertheless, I think I'm learning something.

Because, for the first time in my life, I'm starting to realize what it means to be fully present where I am. I remember hearing a lot about this when I was a kid (the saying "Bloom where you're planted" comes to mind) and always feeling annoyed by it. I probably heard it so much because I was, deep down, always so utterly opposed to it. Grownups always seem to see these things in children, and do their best to correct them. My mother used to describe me as "the child with the faraway eyes"; I was always dreaming of exotic adventures in distant lands, foreign languages and beautiful strangers. I've never dreamed of settling down.

And, well, I'm not ready to buy a home yet or anything like that. But I am beginning to appreciate the necessity of place. I'm beginning to realize how important it is to be where you are, and to stay, at least for a while. To put down roots, to be part of a community, to know your neighbors. You can blame my slow awakening to the beauty of these things on the fact that I'm getting older, if you like, or on the fact that I'm married now. These things might be factors, but the real reason has more to do with my efforts for the environment than with anything else. It has to do with my attempts to eat locally, to walk and bike rather than drive. These actions have forced me to know where I live. They have forced me to be where I am. They have cut the cords of escape; they have placed me here and kept me in this place. And being here, I'm learning more and more to be a part of it. Being here, I'm learning more and more to love it. Like Chesterton, I am learning to fly the flag of Notting Hill, or of Midtown or of Grant Park, proudly.