Judaeo-Christian religion often distinguishes itself from the “nature worship” of so-called “indigenous” faiths, but nature is never far from the stories of Genesis, the Jewish festivals of the Torah, or the parables of Jesus. Indeed, the very last words of the Psalms are “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Note how it is everything and not everyone. The Bible recognizes that God created all things, and that all things, not just humanity praise God. That is why we find our spirits refreshed in their presence. Their love of God is not blocked by rational knowledge or selfish behavior. So instead of listening to crushingly depressing statistics or feelings of guilt, celebrate Earth Day by finding God is every breathe of life and ever stir of wind in the world around you. You may find that your life and the life of everything around you will be healthier and happier in the Lord.
Scripture: Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (NRSV)
Yesterday, while I was dealing with a minor health issue with my dog Mary (she’s fine, by the way), my wife and her mother went to the local nursery to get a new lilac bush, some new flowers, and some herbs. It was a beautiful day, filled with sunshine and the promise of new life blossoming all around us.
Tomorrow is Earth Day, a day which has always struck me as a time of guilt than anything else. It can be like Mother’s Day at its worst; instead of a celebration of mothers, it brings into focus how we often take for granted the work and sacrifices of mothers, and other women, in our lives. Likewise, on Earth Day, we are confronted with environmental degradation and destruction, reminded that we are another year closer to irreversible climate catastrophe, marking another year that we failed to take any meaningful action to address it.
I think that guilt is a non-starter for change. Earth Day should not be a scold fest, but a celebration. We are not going to change our attitudes toward the world because some scientist or condescending do-gooder tells us how awful we are, but because we truly love and value the world around us.
Throughout our recent studies of spirituality in our book group, there has been a major recurring theme to the fuel of our faith, and that is the world around us. We know and appreciate the elegant theologies of the church and the powerful stories of love and sacrifice in the Bible, but when people really need their spiritual fuel tanks refilled, they tend to go out into nature. They appreciate walks in the woods, along beaches and rivers. They enjoy the song of birds and skittering of squirrels. They find God by breathing in the life of the world.
Judeo-Christian religion often distinguishes itself from the “nature worship” of so-called “indigenous” faiths, but nature is never far from the stories of Genesis, the Jewish festivals of the Torah, or the parables of Jesus. Indeed, the very last words of the Psalms are “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Note how it is everything and not everyone. The Bible recognizes that God created all things, and that all things, not just humanity praise God. That is why we find our spirits refreshed in their presence. Their love of God is not blocked by rational knowledge or selfish behavior. So instead of listening to crushingly depressing statistics or feelings of guilt, celebrate Earth Day by finding God is every breathe of life and ever stir of wind in the world around you. You may find that your life and the life of everything around you will be healthier and happier in the Lord.
Prayer: Help me to celebrate the wonders of creation and find my peace in your world. Amen.
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