Lets Talk About Tourists

Lets talk about Tourists.

I have really been struggling with the idea of tourists for the past couple of years. First I have to acknowledge that I have been a tourist, am being a tourist right now (in a way), and will be a tourist in the future. I have seen amazing places because I have gone out of my way to land in specific destinations. But over the past few years I have begun to be more aware of the effect that this has on the land. On this trip I am becoming more aware on what effect it has on the residents. Tourism in Iceland has boomed in the past few years. The consequences of have been obvious, more tourist shops moving in, crowded popular locations, and more cars on the roads. Tourism can also bring wonderful things as well. There is money flowing into the country in new ways, more people get to understand a new culture, and the beauty of Iceland is being shared.

But I am left wondering what role we are called to play in all of this. Ultimately we are talking about caring for God’s creation that has been entrusted to us and it seems to me there is a fine line between enjoying God’s creation and consuming God’s creation. When I stand in a line (anytime I am a tourist) to take a picture of God’s creation how much time am I spending actually enjoying it and how much is about seeing what others have seen? Creation is not meant to be consumed.

I feel comforted by the fact that this trip is not based on tourism. We have been meeting with people and hearing about life here in Iceland, we are experiencing more than standing in lines, and we are truly listening about a new culture. This has brought with it a realization of the importance of the difference between the word “tourist” and “visitor” when you are in a new place. When you are a visitor somewhere there are manners involved. You clean up after yourself, you listen to the directions of your host (obeying signs and warnings), and you ask questions that are not only about yourself but also about your hosts. When you are a tourist there is a temptation to gather experiences rather than information. Tourists leave in their wake destructions, visitors leave an area as nice as when they arrived both for the residents of the land and the visitors to follow.

We are not owners of this planet. We are caretakers. We have been blessed with amazing creation more complex and beautiful than our minds can comprehend. No matter if we are visitors to a new area or enjoying creation at home it is time to take some time to embrace the responsibility of caring for creation.

God of creation, remind is that your creation is not for sale. It is not something to be consumed and destroyed. Instead it is something to be cared for enjoyed. Help each and every one of us to take better care of what has been placed in front of us. Move us to action to take better care of what you have entrusted to us. When we find ourselves with the privilege of visiting a new place help us to slow down, enjoy, and always remember that our responsibility to care for creation is always with us.