Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Saturday, December 10
By John Eldridge, in honor of Blessing of the Animals
The Earth is the Lord’s
Read: Psalm 24 KJV
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
We recently did an upgrade to our backyard. We put in a “hardscape” (which is just lovely), lights on the stairs and on the columns, and increased the size of one of the decks.
It is unusual not to see wildlife in our backyard. We never do not see a deer, usually 2 or 3 going up the ravine. And birds, birds galore! Chipmunks and squirrels round out the usual measure of creatures from the animal kingdom.
So, what do these animals think when they look up and see us on the screened-in porch? Do they think we are stronger because we have clothes? Stronger because we cut our hair? Stronger because we don’t move, we just sit there? For these animals, not moving is a sure way to get gobbled up by a predator.
I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I do know in whose care they are. God cares for these animals just as much as he cares for you and me. That bears repeating: this world is God’s creation, and every living thing is a part of God’s creation, even the trees and plants.
We all come from God, and we will go back to God. And in the meantime, we are in God’s care.
Prayer
Enlighten us, O Lord, to be in tune with nature. Amen.
