One With All of God’s Creation by Rev. Teresa Stuefloten, M.Div., 4/19/2026

Good morning! This is Rev Teresa. The title of my talk today is, One With All of God’s Creation.

We are one with God, one with one another, one with all that is. In our oneness with God, we are one with all of God’s creation. American mystic and spiritual teacher, Joel Goldsmith compares our oneness to a tree, a Tree of Life where each of us are the branches of the tree. In his book, A Parenthesis in Eternity, Joel says:

“The contemplative knows that the branch cannot dictate to the tree, and that the branch need not tell the tree what it needs, or when it needs it. The branch knows that it has to be still and let the tree manifest its own glory, and any glory the tree manifests will be showered upon, and shared with, the branches, and that will include all that the branch may need. The only function of a branch is to be still and let, and in due time the life of the tree will provide the branch with all that it needs, and then when the branch is full of flowers and fruit, instead of taking pride in it, the branch will be humble and remember that it is but showing forth the glory of the tree, and that of its own self it did not, and could not, create all this beauty, this fruit, or this wealth.”

“As good begins to unfold in our experience, whether it is peace, harmony, health, or abundance - whatever it may be - we have to develop that deep humility which enables us to recognize that this is the showing forth of God’s glory, God showing Himself forth as our heath, our life, and our supply; and in the recognition of this, we are contemplating God’s grace, His love, omnipresence, and omnipotence. In dwelling in that contemplative state we are permitting the law of life to function in our mind, being, body and business. Furthermore, the flow is normal because it is not cluttered up or cut off by an ego trying to boast or preen itself, and give credit to itself.”

“It is so easy to think that we can be of benefit to one another. This is the natural belief of the natural man, the ego man. One branch cannot really benefit another branch, however, because what ever benefit may come to you or to me through each other is really only the Life itself using us as Its instrument. The blessings that come into our experience from any direction are really God Itself flowing to us. It is true, of course, that as servants of the most High we also serve each other, but we serve only as instruments of God.”

“The truth that enables us to serve each other is knowing that I have nothing of my own to give you, and you have nothing of your own to give me: we derive our good from the same Source because we are one - one Tree. We are the manifestation of one Tree of Life and, by an invisible bond, we are all branches of that one Tree.”

 “The person who knows this is beginning to purge himself of ego because he does not see himself as the source of someone else’s good; he is thinking only in terms of one, not two. Where there are two, there will eventually be friction, even when temporarily one is doing good for another.”

“The antidote for all friction is a realization of oneness. We must keep consciously before us a picture of the Tree of Life and we must see ourselves as branches of the Tree, each growing from the center to the circumference, with no dependence upon one another, yet with co-operativeness because we are parts of one complete whole.”

“In the mystical life, a person lives constantly and consciously as out from the Center, in the realization of oneness, and with every temptation to see twoness, opposition, or competition, he inwardly smiles in the realization: ‘Be not afraid, it is I. There is only one of us here, not two. There is not a ‘me’ and an enemy - that is twoness.’”

“The way of the mystic is not a struggling to overcome enemies and a striving to make friends. The mystic knows, ‘It is I; It is I - this Tree is all there is. Even if I am seeing a thousand different branches, it is one Tree. ‘It is I; be not afraid.’ There is one Tree of Life, and we are all one in that Tree, and of that Tree.’”

“The mystic has had long months, and sometimes even years, of being faced with outward temptations to believe in twoness, to believe that there is a ‘me’ and another, and he has overcome such temptations by the ability to look around and realize that, while there may seem to be a dozen different persons, actually they are all one Tree, all parts of the Tree of Life, and therefore, whatever is good for one is good for the others. This is the Master’s teaching of ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself,’ and its is only when we are seeing our neighbor as a part of this Tree of Life that we are loving him as ourselves: we are seeing him fed from within, sustained, strengthened, healed, and resurrected from within, needing no outside aid.”

“In living this life the mystic becomes a blessing without consciously desiring or attempting to be. All those who come into his presence feel something emanating from his consciousness. And what is it that they feel? Not any desire to do good; just the ability to live at the Center of this contemplation of oneness.”

“…Whenever competition, opposition, or friction of any kind come into our experience, we retire to that center of our being and by realizing that we are not two, but one, we again establish the order of divine harmony. As long as we can translate an appearance of two-ness into the picture of the Tree of Life, we are the light of the world, and a blessing to it.”

“The principle which would unite people and ensure harmonious and fruitful relationships in the family, the community, and eventually the state, the nation, and all the nations of the world is conscious oneness with God.”

“When a person carries this relationship of oneness with God into his business or professional life, he increasingly draws unto himself those who more nearly represent his state of consciousness. The key to a fulfilled life, as well as the key to success, is in oneness with God. Only in our relationship of oneness with the Father can we have a permanent bond at any and every level of human existence - on the level of friendship, the marital, the social, and business levels. We can be one through our oneness with God, and in that oneness joy flows, a joy at every level.” (End of quote)

I love the image of the Tree of Life and each of us as a branch of that tree. We are one in the Tree of Life. We are not separate. What is done to one, or by one, is done to the entire tree because each of us are a part or the whole and affect the whole.

Philippians 2:1-18 says:

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, …”

Wednesday of this week, April 22nd, is Earth Day 2026. It is the 56th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970. The newsletter of Farm Fresh to You had this history of Earth Day:

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY

Earth Day is a day of action that advocates for changes to policy and people’s behavior to benefit the environment. Let’s take a quick look at some significant milestones in this journey.

1970 Earth Day - 20 million people participated in massive rallies from coast to coast to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Earth Day founders built an 85-person staff to promote events and teach-ins across the country between spring break and final exams. Thus the date of Earth Day falls in late April.

1990 Earth Day - 200 million people in 141 countries assembled to advocate for policies to promote recycling worldwide.

2000 Earth Day - A huge push to organize global warming education and clean energy measures across the globe via the internet.

2010 Earth Day - Over 75,000 global partners in 192 countries launched the world’s largest environmental service projects. ‘A Billion Acts of Green” and “The Canopy Project.” They are strategic and long-term efforts to combat climate change.

2026 Earth Day - Now is the time to each do our part to preserve and protect this place we all home. A healthy planet is not an option, it is a necessity. Everyone can change something for the better, whether at home, at a place of business, or at any of the places we visit or recreate. Thank you for making a difference!

There is a website for Earth Day 2026 earthday.org where you can find an event and resources. The website says “Progress does not happen in silence. It happens when people show up. Environmental progress is built through everyday action - from communities protecting ecosystems to innovators advancing solutions. Clean air, safe water, and climate resilience aren’t optional - they’re essential. For Earth Day 2026 we’re mobilizing at scale. Every action counts. Every voice matters.”(End of quote)

An example of one of the organizations involved in Earth Day is the Canopy Tree Project. They say, “Help us restore vulnerable landscapes, protect wildlife and their habitats, and protect community livelihoods. Through long-term partnerships, we build lasting environmental and economic resilience — for people and the planet. We are Rooted in Community and driven by impact. See how our trees transform lives and the Earth.”

They have been planting 50,000 fruit trees annually in Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania since 2021 to support food security and extra incomes for local communities, planting 200,000 trees so far.

In Sundarbans, India they are restoring degraded mangrove regions to boost climate resilience and local economies, planting 3,000,000 trees so far.

In High Atlas Mountain, Morocco they are restoring and irrigating dry lands while providing training and income opportunities that empower women, with 42,000 trees planted.

In Sierra Gorda Reserve, Mexico they are driving local economies and protecting biodiversity through community-led public space restoration, with 350,000 trees planted.

And in the US, they are cooling urban streets in Dallas, Texas, making downtown more livable. This project addresses environmental and health problems caused by the urban heat island in Dallas, Texas through downtown green space expansion and tree cover. Shading urban streets reduces ground temperatures over 10 degrees and improves quality of life for residents. 200 trees have been planted so far.

These projects fulfill the Biblical mandates:

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:31

Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”

Our fellow beings in the Tree of Life wish for us to do for them what we would want if we were living in the conditions they are living. What each of us do affects the whole, whether we see or not.

There is a page on the Earth Day website with links to lots of information about plastic pollution, renewable energy, food systems and climate change. There are quizzes to see how much you know about protecting our Earth.

Under the heading of “Toolkits” is says, “Knowledge is key to making an impact. Check out our toolkits to learn how anyone can help solve some of the world's most pressing issues.”

There are many fact sheets to learn more about areas where humanity needs to make some changes to protect and benefit the whole. One that is particularly interesting to me is about bees. The bee population has declined over the last few decades and bees are so important as pollinators of our food crops.

My maternal grandfather kept bees in Chico, California and brought us gallon jars of honey when he visited. He took me out to his hives in an orchard when I was a child, so bees are very dear to my heart. I love to watch them moving in the center of a flower, emerging covered with pollen from the flower. As they go from flower to flower they pollinate so that whatever that plant or tree produces will grow.

Did you know that, “There are 20,000 distinct bee species around the world, with 4,000 of them in the United States alone. From 2006-2015, approximately 25% fewer species were found. ”

Did you know that, “Many factors are influencing the decline of bees, including habitat fragmentation, increased use of neonicotinoid pesticides, colony collapse disorder, and climate change.”

Did you know that, “Bees exist in all types of climates around the world, from forests in Europe to deserts in Africa–even in the Arctic Circle. Unlike honeybees and their hives, wild bees in the U.S. live in many different places: under the ground, in holes, and in trees.”

Did you know that, “Some of the world’s bee species include carpenter bees and bumblebees in North America, the mining bee and the mason bee in Europe, the Cape bee in Africa, and the Asian honeybee in Asia and Australia.”

Did you know that,  “Bees play a massive role in pollinating the plants that we eat. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers in a day. Approximately 75% of the world’s crops depend on pollinators. In North America, bees help with the production of at least 90 crops.”

Did you know that, “Many species of animals depend on bees for their survival because their food source, including nuts, berries, seeds, and fruits, relies on insect pollination. Pollination not only makes food available for other organisms but also allows floral growth, which provides habitats for animals, including other insects and birds.”

Did you know that, “In 2017, the rusty-patched bumble bee was added to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species list, after a population decline of 87% in recent years. Previously, Federal authorities added to the list seven yellow-faced bee species, Hawaii’s only native bees, for protection under the Endangered Species Act, a first for any bees in the United States.”

Did you know that, “One third of the world’s food supply relies on bees. The global crop production pollinated by bees is valued at $577 billion. Pollinators contribute $20 billion to the U.S. agriculture industry. California (where I live) produces over 80% of the world’s almond harvest. Spread over 1.17 million acres, California’s almond orchards typically require 1.6 million domesticated bee colonies to pollinate the flowering trees and produce the almonds.”

One of the things we can do to help protect bees is to go organic and avoid using pesticides and herbicides in our yards and on any land we own. There are natural methods of controlling the pests we do not want. And weeds can be controlled simply by spraying vinegar on them.

There is another fact sheet on the website about Regenerative Agriculture and it says, “we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions with a switch to widely available and inexpensive organic management practices, which we term 'regenerative organic agriculture.” Check out this fact sheet on the Earth Day 2026 website for more details.

Another fact sheet on “Food Systems and Climate Change” gives the facts on how animal agriculture affects our world. Did you know that, “An estimated 1,800 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. With that much water you could take 105 eight-minute showers a day!” “1 gallon of cow’s milk requires 1,950 gallons of water.” And “it takes about three pounds of grain to raise one pound of meat.” So you can help our earth by committing to Meatless Mondays or Vegetarian Taco Tuesdays.

As for the plastics in our environment, the 5 fact sheets on earthday.org inform us that, “It is estimated that 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are currently in our oceans… One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used a year… When plastics end up in landfills, they aren’t harmless. They break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them…  Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging about 13 bottles per month for every person in the U.S.! That means by using a reusable water bottle, you could save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually.” So one easy thing you can help our Earth is using a reusable water bottle and taking your own reusable cup when you go to Starbucks or other places that use disposable plastic cups. 

As for the effects of plastic on our human body, the fact sheet on the effect of plastics on health states, “ Growing literature links many Phthalates, which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break, with a variety of adverse outcomes including weight gain and insulin resistance, decreased levels of sex hormones, and other consequences for the human reproductive system both for females and males…. When food is wrapped in plastic containing BPA, phthalates may leak into the food. Any migration is likely to be greater when in contact with fatty foods such as meats and cheeses than with other foods.” So when shopping for food we can take this into account when choosing how foods are packaged that we choose to buy.

A fact sheet on Global Species Decline states, “We are currently living through a mass species extinction event, the largest known. The speed with which mass extinction has onset appears to be the result of human activity. Scientists estimate that we are losing 10,000 times more species per year than the normal rate.” Go to the website for more details about species decline. Our current administration in the US has proposed reducing protections for endangered species and the environment. We can speak out to our legislators encouraging them to reject measures that would take away existing protections for animals and the environment for the benefit of wealthy corporations. Our voices can make a difference, as well as our vote at the ballot box.

And lastly, a fact sheet on Reforestation informs us that, “Reforestation is an effective method to fight against climate change while also maintaining the many benefits forests provide… Throughout 2015-2020, 10 million hectares of trees were removed from forests around the world each year. Only 5 million hectares of trees were planted each year throughout the same period… Forests are extremely important to humanity’s health and wellbeing. They provide tens of millions of jobs, are a vital part of the food chain, and over 28,000 species of forest plants are used in medicines… A study found that urban reforestation projects improved the mental health of office workers who could view green spaces from their office… Adding 10% more green cover in cities and towns could potentially reduce the surface temperature of the area by 2.2 °C… Plants found in forests release phytoncides, antimicrobial compounds. Studies have found that exposure to phytoncides can reduce stress, boost the immune system, and lower blood pressure as well as heart rate.” So take a walk in nature regularly for your health, and plant a tree or support organizations that plant trees.

Our Earth was created by God, our Creator and Sustainer. We are the caretakers of our Earth and we are responsible for the health and well-being of our Earth.

Psalm 14:1 “A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

This world is our garden of Eden, given to us by the Divine for us to live in this physical lifetime, as well as for our children and grandchildren and future generations. To keep it means to take care of it. We are responsible for the health of our Earth and the environment that we leave to future generations. And in light of reincarnation, this is the environment that we, ourselves, may inhabit in a future lifetime. As Joel Goldsmith expressed so well, we are all branches of the same tree. Our choices affect the entire tree. Consider the choices you make today in light of the command to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Leave the world that you would like to inhabit for those in future generations. And so it is!