Tuesday’s Musings: Happy Earth Day

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15)

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

"You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing." (Psalm 65:9-13)

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth." (Psalm 104:10-14)

I like the fact that we celebrate Earth Day each year.  I know that after God created the earth – all of nature and then humans he charged humankind with caring for his creation.  While it was designed to be self renewing and to provide food for all living things, over the years humans have ignored the needs of nature in their own self-interest.  We pollute the air creating acid rain that is killing trees on the mountainsides. I have seen it on Mt. Mitchell. We are destroying the rain forests while urban sprawl eliminates the natural habitat of animals driving bears and coyotes into neighborhoods.
We aren’t the first either.  I chose to share more scripture than usual today because the Bible says so many good things about God’s relationship to nature.  I found one in Ezekiel in which God scolds us for not respecting the earth.  "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?" (Ezekiel 34:17-18)  I hope today we will each take a moment to consider how we might support care and nurture of the earth and all of God’s creation.

Heavenly God, we praise you for all you have created.  We are sorry for what we do that causes harm to the earth.  Help us to fulfill your charge to be good caretakers.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige