Hamilton Island

 In the 1980's, the town of North Bonneville WA was relocated by the government and the land dredged away to create another river channel to build a new powerhouse for the Bonneville Dam. The new town is next to Hamilton Island, called Strawberry Island by Lewis & Clark.  We went there in hopes for a few berries; we found a delight for the eyes with these flowers and grasses, but none for the taste buds. 

What is the effect of dislocating people from their land? Some cultures don't talk about this much; for Native Americans, their life and identity is intimately connected to their land. The Biblical account says that the first man was created from the dust of the earth and then God breathed his spirit into him. Adam; both soil and spirit.  We are all his descendants. Many Christians emphasize humans are made in God's image and forget about the dirt part.  Others emphasize the dirt, humans are kin to the earth.  The Bible says we are both.  The land we belong to matters.  Restoration for the people who have been separated from the land they were given to live on; a big topic of prayer this day.