It can not have escaped from 1st January, the plastic bags in the messages are no longer free. For people who like to keep using plastic bags is not a man on board: they are still available, but you pay for it now.
This decision is intended to make us aware of how we deal with plastic. And further: how bad all this waste to our environment.
My kids had a very last table talk together about global warming and the harmful radiation through the hole in the ozone layer: is it really so bad, and if so, what we do is actually on? Do we really have a plane on vacation?
We become increasingly aware of these developments and say what footprint you leave behind on earth when you later look back on your life.
In other words, you have caused the creation injury, or have you done your best to also give back to the earth?
Our creation seems serious business, we only have one earth, we must therefore deal with it frugal and careful. A great responsibility.
After talking with my children, I took me back for even more aware to deal with the creation around me.
Minimize waste, reuse as much as possible, be critical with shopping, economical use of energy. My footprint.
And yet…. every time I am amazed again about all the plastic waste that I 'savings' for the container.

The word "footprint" reminds me of a gospel hymn:

Footprints of Jesus leading the way

Footprints of Jesus by night and day

Sure if I follow, my life would be sweet

Saved by the prints of his wounded feet.

In this hymn, we hear come Jezus` footsteps: to Bethany to Gethsemane, or to the poor and vulnerable in society, not to mention meet its own demise.
But we may also hear, when I was lost, and he heard my cry, he was there, and took my burden alone. Jezus` footprint is all there for us.
It is a beautiful picture: the footprint I leave, where are my pace going.
A children's song sings: "Feet You have to walk to the man who is lonely."
I intend to leave as little as possible harmful footprints behind this year and do my footsteps go to those who could use some attention.

 

Pastor Marga klein Overmeen