Our Beautiful World

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?   In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.  Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12

I just finished a book by a scientist who studies plants; specifically, trees. Because this is her passion and her work, day in and day out she studies a life form that we often overlook. Or, if we don’t overlook it, we maybe take a tree’s contributions for granted.

Some tidbits that I took from the book:

Plants have it rough. They are always fighting…fighting for light, nutrients, water. Everything they need to sustain themselves, they must fight for. When just about everything else alive in the world regards you as food, and you can’t run, things aren’t easy. For example, each year during warm months, a tree must grow a new set of leaves. If it doesn’t “meet its quota” in any given year, a competitor may take over. This happens when the competing plant/tree grows into a corner of our tree’s space and may begin the process by which our tree will lose its foothold and die. The pressure to succeed is life and death!

The author mentions in her epilogue that our world is “falling apart quietly”.  We, as humans (over the years), have reduced plant forms to three uses: food, medicine, wood.  They are so much more! She encourages us to plant trees, care for them, and appreciate them.

God has created this world in which we live. Trees are just a part of this wonderful, natural world he has created. He has entrusted us with its care: “Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”, according to Genesis 1:26. It’s a beautiful world, one in which the diversity of nature is mind-blowing! Simply appreciating God’s creation is one way we can honor this verse. We may go even further by taking care of the earth and its creatures, in one way or another: by planting a tree; photographing nature and sharing those photos with others; caring for our own animals, plants; supporting someone who cares for nature; visiting a national park. The opportunities are many.

According to Psalm 104: 24-25: How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this beautiful earth on which we live. Remind us to care for your creatures and your creation, as you have commanded. Amen.

Donna Gustafson  office@eastridge.org