Psalm 104:12-23
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth,and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.
What are you thankful for these days? As these days of late fall have set in, I’ve been thankful for my morning coffee buddy and her friends. We have a lovely Prairie Fire Crabapple tree in our yard and the deer love to come and nibble the fallen crabapples for their breakfast. Their presence in the morning lifts my eyes from the newspaper and the grim statistics of the day to their quiet beauty.
Psalm 104 lifts up the beauty of the natural world and our connectedness as a gift from God. Grass grows for the cattle, plants for the people, the cedars are watered and grow and the birds build nests in their branches. Fruit becomes wine and wheat becomes bread for our hearts, and oil is given to make our faces shine. The moon and the sun have roles to play, as do the lions and humans and birds. We sing, we play, we eat, we work, we rest. We are not isolated creatures. It serves us well to remember our place in creation as one of many beautiful and necessary parts.
What do you see outside your window? What are you thankful for?
In Peace, Pastor Ruth
Community Prayer:
Gracious and loving God, the galaxies of the heavens worship you, and all creatures that grace the earth rejoice in you. All those in the deepest seas bow, and with them we give you praise. Grant that we may cherish the earth, our home, and live in harmony with this good creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend, Amen.