Earth Day 2022

As many of you who read this blog may have noticed, I recycle devotions. It doesn't hurt to hear something again, and I don't have a ready, endless supply of new material (I must add here: I am so appreciative of those of you who submit devotions!). However, for Earth Day this year, I've decided not to recycle one of my former devotions (all published on previous Earth Days back to 2018). Instead, I thought I'd ponder what I've learned about our earth over the past two years of paying close(er) attention to it. There is also a limited supply of nature-inspired scripture, so I will share a sampling of those again.

Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas, and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:9-10

It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands and I ordained all their host. Isaiah 45:12

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice. Psalm 96:12

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Luke 12:27

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:28-34

Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12

I see God's hand in much of what I notice and photograph while "in the field". In particular, I have researched the fascinating wildlife I've photographed.

Pastor Thomas Dummermuth shared the following scripture and five prompts during our Lenten Pilgrimage 2022:

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Proverbs 6:6 

• Have you noticed any interesting creatures recently?
• Over the next day, keep your eyes open and see what animal crosses your path.
• Study it. If you can’t observe it in its natural habitat, find a picture or video and observe it.
• Mull over what you discover.
• What can you learn from their ways?

Fun facts that show the miracle of nature (and happen to be about those species I've photographed below!):

Kinglets, tiny birds that are just a bit bigger than hummingbirds, can survive winter temps below zero. They stay warm by constant movement! Another favorite of mine (mostly because they can be spotted here in Lincoln during the winter!) are chickadees. Chickadees (and other winter birds) retain heat in their body core by fluffing out their feathers. We may look at it as if they have "fattened up" for the winter, but they are merely puffed up, thickening the insulation around their bodies.

Birds know when to migrate, and on any given evening in April, up to one million birds may be flying overhead while you sleep!

Nature is a balance...when invasive species disrupt that balance, things can go awry. What causes invasive or non-native species much of the time? Humans. However, I have enjoyed photographing the house sparrows on the south side of the building each spring (even though they are native to Europe and Africa, and disrupt the nesting habits of native species, such as bluebirds). The difference between invasive and non-native: invasive: a species of plant or animal that outcompetes other species causing damage to an ecosystem. Non-native: a species that originated somewhere other than its current location and has been introduced to the area where it now lives.  

Canada Geese nest in the same area their parents did every year, often in the same nest. Adult geese may communicate with each other using more than 10 different calls.

Dragonflies and damselflies are some of the oldest insect groups. During prehistoric times, they were evidently much larger than what we see today.

I could go on but I won't, because you need to get on with your day. But take a moment during the course of this day and appreciate the beauty of the world God created!

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the miracles of nature. Help me to see the miracle of life around me, and to be grateful. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

All photos taken in Lincoln. Click on photos to view larger. From the top: golden-crowned kinglet, lesser yellowlegs, yellow-rumped warbler, something growing inside a dead tree, Canada goose, hover fly, black-capped chickadee, pewee, house wren, goldfinch, damselfly, cottontail rabbit, white-breasted nuthatch.