Reciprocity with Creation

How does having a reciprocal relationship with the natural world shift our beliefs and actions? In April’s “We Conspire” series, Anna Johnson of Laudato Si’ Movement shares how a loving commitment to the natural world can create a sustainable future. “Contemplation,” she says, “allows us to open our hearts to all that is sacred in the world around us.”  

Active in 140 countries, Laudato Si’ Movement (LSM) works to inspire and mobilize the global Catholic community to care for our common planetary home. The Laudato Si’ Movement encourages ecological conversion which inspires environmental sustainability and advocacy for public policies aligned with their mission. Combining contemplation and action in their work, they offer a wider range of ways to deepen one’s care and connection to the planet, from teaching contemplative prayer to participating in global campaigns for climate justice.  

By taking time to connect and fall in love with the natural world, Laudato Si’ Movement mission is grounded in the belief that then individuals are more motivated to protect it. Anna Johnson, North American Senior Programs Manager, says that “Our actions are guided by our deep relationship with God’s creation, recognizing that our bodies are also comprised of the same elements as the natural world.” She explains, “The earth is trying to sustain us because we are a part of God’s creation. It’s an unjust continuation of the savior complex to think that we can save the earth without being in a close relationship with it.”  

One of LSM’s areas of focus is ecological conversion, which is defined as “the process of acknowledging our contribution to the social and ecological crisis and acting in ways that nurture communion.” [1] By coming to terms with ways that humans have harmed the earth, people are able re-imagine ways of relating with the natural world in sustaining and healing ways. Johnson observes, “Ecological conversion invites people into an authentic relationship with creation.” 

Laudato Si’ Movement hopes that by getting in touch with creation, individuals will experience “transformation of hearts and minds toward greater love of God, each other, and creation.” [2] By sinking our hands into the earth, walking in a forest or along the seashore, or noticing a flower blooming through the cracks in the sidewalk or interwoven roots exposed by a recent storm, we deepen our relationship with the earth. Johnson points out that only in a mutually reciprocal relationship can the earth’s healing come to us. “We are a part of, not apart from, the natural world,” she says.  

Within this mutuality, Laudato Si’ Movement hopes the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor will remain at the forefront of every decision made toward a sustainable future. In an interview at the start of his papacy, Pope Francis said: “If today you were to ask me who were the poorest of the poor, I would say Mother Earth.” [3] Johnson stresses the importance of justice and solidarity in the work of sustainability, where a seat is saved for those most affected by the decisions being made at every decision-making table.  

It is essential that we talk about how the decisions we make affect Mother Earth. Johnson encourages us to ask important, challenging questions in the spaces where we make decisions, whether it be a family’s dinner table, a boardroom of C-suite executives, or a room where janitors are deciding what chemicals to buy to clean schools. The duty to care for nature, our common home, and to protect humankind from self-destruction are not separate.  

For Johnson, contemplation calls us to re-root ourselves in our core values and ensure our actions uphold the dignity of all living creatures. “We are deeply interconnected,” she says. “When we make choices that take into account the inherent worth of all creation, it propels us forward into a higher level of being that more closely aligns with God’s call to build the kingdom.”  

Johnson invites us to remember, inspired by St. Francis, that the earth’s cry is our cry. “Contemplation is one of the most powerful ways to continue bringing us back to ourselves,” says Johnson. “We belong to each other and should care for one another. We walk in community always.”  

References: 
[1] Jonathon Braden, “What is an ecological conversion?” June 24, 2021, Laudato Si’ Movement, accessed March 22, 2025,  https://laudatosimovement.org/news/what-is-an-ecological-conversion-en-news/.  

[2] Erin Lothes, “Committed to Spiritual Transformation,” March 30, 2023, Laudato Si’ Movement, accessed March 22, 2025, https://laudatosimovement.org/news/committed-to-spiritual-transformation.  

[3] Wenders, Wim, Director, Pope Francis: A Man of His Word, Focus Features, 2018, 96 minutes.  

Reflect with Us  
How has contemplation deepened your sense of belonging to the natural world? 
In what ways has your spiritual practice reshaped how you listen to the earth’s cry—and respond with care, justice, and love? Share your reflection with us.   

We Conspire is a series from the Center for Action and Contemplation featuring wisdom and stories from the growing Christian contemplative movement. Sign up for the monthly email series and receive a free invitation to practice each month.