By Rosemary Peters
On Nov. 18, Bishop William S. Skylstad, of Spokane, Washington, will offer a free lecture concerning water in today's society.William Skylstad was born in the town of Omak and grew up near the Methow River which feeds the Columbia. While he was growing up, he fostered an intimate relationship with the environment. He came to realize and the interconnectedness of the universe, especially in the rivers, lakes, and oceans of the world.This revelation deepened as he embarked on his journey as a priest. Skylstad found several passages and references to water in the Bible."Especially as God's people we need to appreciate its [water's] relevance to us as God's gift and the dynamic symbol of flowing waters which literally give life and breath to our land," Skylstad said in a lecture he gave the last time he visited the UP campus.His talk, which will be held in BC Auditorium from 4pm to 5pm, is entitled "Stewards of God's Creation - Emerging Themes." Skylstad's talk will cover emerging environmental issues and Catholic social teaching, including water issues. "I remember looking at the river as a boy and wondering where that water was going, where it would end up. In later years, as I drove through the Columbia Gorge, I would often think that some of the water alongside me in the Columbia River was from the Methow, and some of the fish spawned in my river were no doubt passing by me on their way to the sea," Skylstad said in the same lecture. "I sensed connectedness, as a boy and as a man, and I remain, today, filled with awe and appreciation of this wonderful gift and treasure in our midst, the flowing waters of life."
