ChurCh News
As you probably know, thousands of bison once roamed the plains of North America. In the late 1800s they were almost brought to extinction. Thankfully, due to conservation efforts, bison are back in the United States plains – even if they aren’t nearly as ubiquitous as they once were.
You probably also know that bison are the largest mammals in North America. Male bison (called bulls) can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand six feet tall, while females (called cows) weigh up to 1,000 pounds and can reach a height up to five feet. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth. These are large and powerful creatures.
But even though bison are formidable, the plains can still be dangerous for them. Their main predators are wolves and mountain lions (what we in the west call cougars), who prey on the weak and the slow – like young bison.
Bison typically run when they sense danger, but when predators approach without warning, bison form a multilayer circle of protection. The cows form a ring around the young, and the bulls form an outer ring surrounding the cows.
Just picture this for a moment. A wolf is coming … the bison cannot run anywhere. And instantly, instinctively, they corral their young in the middle, the females encircle the young, and the males encircle the females. The two rings facing outward. It is a pretty powerful picture. The bison community automatically protects those who cannot protect themselves.
May I ask why we, as humans, seem to do a worse job of protecting the vulnerable than bison? We know God’s imperative from Genesis to Revelation. I mean, who did the prophets cry out for? The laborer, the prisoner, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the enslaved, the marginalized. Who did Jesus heal? The blind, the deaf, the paralyzed, the bleeding, the possessed, the outcast, the sinner, the forgotten.
Again and again, God calls for each beloved person to be held safe – to be provided for and protected – and, when necessary, for those able, to encircle those who are defenseless, especially those society has called expendable.
This is the call God places on each of us – to protect and care for the most vulnerable. Yet we are witnessing and experiencing the opposite in our society and through government actions. Beloveds in Christ, do not be deceived.
When food assistance and benefits are slashed, the vulnerable are left defenseless.
When rights are stripped away from women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and others, they are being cast to the wolves. Jesus himself warns in Matthew 7, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
As followers of Jesus, in these times that may bring discouragement or a sense of being overwhelmed, in these times when it feels wolves are coming at you or for someone you love, may you feel encircled in love and protection – even as you are called to encircle others.
May we advocate, love boldly, and protect those who are most at risk. Let us take heart in the promise of God’s justice and mercy. Let us be a people who uplift the weary, feed the hungry, and shelter the displaced. May we be a church that embodies Christ’s compassion and courage, refusing to look away, refusing to be silent, refusing to let the wolves win. For all people are beloved in God’s eyes.
I close with this. I have a little miniature bison on my desk in my office. I look at it often to remember that I am protected by God and that I am called by God.
May you remember – as a baptized and beloved child of God, God has called you in this time and in this place.
And you are not alone. For even as you protect others, God protects you. Amen.
County health director let go
Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department director Erika Lautenbach was let go from her position on March 19, with Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu citing “a need for better alignment with the county’s strategic priorities.”
The Whatcom County Executive’s Office announced Lautenbach’s resignation in a March 19 statement provided to The Northern Light. Sidhu gave no specific reasons for Lautenbach’s dismissal but instead offered an anodyne description of a new leadership structure
“Last year Executive Sidhu established a new leadership structure in his office, providing increased departmental oversight and a stronger focus on stabilizing the County’s budget and operations,” the statement read. “As a result, Executive Sidhu ultimately determined that new leadership is needed for alignment on these priorities.”
The county put Lautenbach on administrative leave on March 5. Whatcom County Council was informed of Lautenbach’s leave on March 11.
Lautenbach was appointed as health director on March 18, 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of her appointment, she had over 15 years of public health experience, which included previously serving as assistant director of the county health department.
“Ms. Lautenbach led WCHCS through the difficult years of the pandemic and oversaw a significant expansion of the department’s services, including the Response Systems Division, Healthy Children’s Fund, Fentanyl response plan and severe weather shelters,” Sidhu wrote in the statement. “We are very grateful for these accomplishments and wish her well on her future personal and professional endeavors.”
Whatcom County health officer Dr. Amy Harley will lead WCHCS until county council selects an interim director. Assistant director Charlene Ramont will help with the day-to-day administration of the department.
Sidhu intends to name an interim director shortly and will provide more details regarding the recruitment process for a permanent replacement.
Efforts to reach Lautenbach were unsuccessful. However, in a statement she sent to the Bellingham Herald, she said she was surprised to hear she was terminated.
“I believed our legal teams were negotiating a separation agreement in good faith, and we were still within the lawfully required period of time for my consideration. I have served the county with integrity and have, in all matters, put the health and safety of the public first. I did nothing illegal, unethical or otherwise. The reasons stated for my termination are inaccurate. I have been concerned for some time by the executive’s actions and believe this termination is directly related to these concerns,” she wrote in the statement provided to the Bellingham Herald.
Garden ...
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find similar information on the plant tag. Summer veggies, herbs, and other warm weather plants should not be planted until overnight soil temperatures are between 50- and 60-degrees Fahrenheit. Until then, your plants could be damaged or killed by frost, low temperatures, or too much rain.
A good rule of thumb for our location is to wait until after Mother’s Day to plant outdoors. Our frost-free growing season typically runs from mid-May to mid-October but is often shorter or longer. Be sure to ask friends and neighbors what grows well for them, as there are many micro-climates in Point Roberts.
A couple of other things to consider, based on research versus local lore or word of mouth. Tilling your soil each year or season damages the structure of your soil and the important subsoil edaphon (the marvelous underground life of invertebrates, bacteria, mycelium, and other soil components necessary for your plants to thrive). This means that annually digging and turning your soil is unnecessary. It is also not necessary to amend your soil each year, as adding too much fertilizer, compost, and/or bulky organic materials can also damage your soil as well as your plants. Before spending money on pricey inputs, have a professional soil test done and add only what’s necessary. As always, I’m available to answer gardening questions during Senior Lunch at the community center on Wednesdays and Fridays between noon and 1 pm. We’ll be having our final seed exchange of the year in a few weeks, date and time to be announced soon.
s Hannah, Valerie and Pauli lend a hand cleaning up the local cemetery on March 22. Photo by Erin Kelly
