The Saturday of the August Bank Holiday found me at Greenbelt, the normally lush green fields of Boughton House parched after a summer of heatwaves. As the much needed rain began to settle in I joined a packed Hot House tent to listen to Ruth Valerio talk about her new book, ‘How to Survive a World in Crisis (And Not Grow Weary of Doing Good)’. The Hot House venue was introduced in 2019 and is dedicated to programming around the climate crisis, it’s beautifully decorated with symbols of the natural world including bees, butterflies and plants.
I suspect many of those present were, or had been at some point, deeply involved with some form of activism, perhaps angry about the lack of action on climate change that had led to this summer’s wildfires, heatwaves and flooding, or saddened by the situation in the Middle East, or feeling the injustices involved with global poverty. These are all issues that Ruth Valerio understands, she is currently Director of Programmes, Partnerships and Advocacy with Embrace the Middle East, having previously led the theology and advocacy work at Tearfund and pioneered the Eco Church movement with A Rocha UK. However, the book isn’t just for environmental or global poverty activists but for everyone involved in working for change, whatever that might look like.
Both the talk and the book address the question of how we can keep going without burning out or giving in to despair. These are big and weighty questions to tackle in a slim volume but it feels like the right format. No-one feeling burnt out, or on the cusp of it, wants to wade through dense pages of prose. What’s needed are clear and practical suggestions, using real life examples to show the ideas are grounded in reality. This is exactly what readers get. It’s not a prescriptive book but an invitation to use the six tools that are discussed in ways that work for you.
The bracketed subtitle of the book comes from Galatians 6:9 and sets the tone for a biblically rooted toolkit. The first chapter explores the idea of holding on to your vision, setting that within the bigger Biblical vision of a different kind of world. It’s a helpful chapter for anyone who has worked across different areas (for example I was involved in the Fairtrade movement for many years before being drawn towards more environmental concerns) and wants to connect things that can feel disparate to one story. It covers Biblical concepts including salvation, Jubilee, ecological visions and peace, before reminding readers that our central identity is as followers of Jesus.
The second chapter looks at finding community and the benefits of working together, while the third looks at how taking individual action can be motivating to yourself and others. I really liked the emphasis on learning and curiosity in this chapter, as well as the reminder that actions that might feel tiny can actually be signals, whether it’s emailing an MP to tell them you care about an issue or choosing to buy peat free compost, each small action can be part of a bigger picture, and might eventually lead to change.
The penultimate chapter looks at the Biblical idea of Sabbath, exploring how rhythms of rest, creativity, and looking after ourselves can help keep us from burning out. Finally, we explore the benefits of connecting with nature for both better physical and mental health, as well as the need to recover a nature spirituality which recognises the closeness of the Creator and the created world. The conclusion brings everything together with a short reflection on the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, asking readers to think about how they might live out their values.
In some ways much of the material here is familiar, but it’s bound together with personal stories from both the author and people encountered on her journey, which gives the book emotional depth and a sense of shared vulnerability. For activists and campaigners looking to feel seen and supported this is an excellent addition to the bookshelf. There are no easy answers but plenty of hope and inspiration.
Shelly Dennison is a director of JRI. She is a freelance writer and charity communications specialist.