Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, “Let the
land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear
fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The
land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and
trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that
it was good.
Comments
Science tells us that every living thing on earth evolved
due to a process of mutation and natural selection. Change occurs constantly
and randomly, with some changes increasing the likelihood that an organism will
thrive and multiply.
Large portions of the earth have fertile soil and adequate
amounts of rain and sunlight that make it possible for plants to grow. The result
is an abundance of vegetation capable of supporting life.
None of this explains, of course, why the fruit of some
trees is so delicious or why flowers are so exquisitely beautiful.
Science says all of this is a fortunate coincidence; faith
says we are blessed by a loving God.
Reflections
What are your favorite fruits and vegetables? What spices and
seasonings add something special to the food you eat? How might you give thanks
to God for the wonder of so many good things that come from the ground?
What are your favorite flowers? Do you find it remarkable that
fruit trees are so beautiful when they blossom in the spring, and other trees stunning
as their leaves change color in the fall? How might you give thanks to God for the
beauty that can be found in the world we have been given?
Prayer
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
King of the universe, who has blessed us richly with goodness and beauty.
Trees
by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
I love Nature...trees, flowers, birds.....I am aware of God's creation when I look at the beautiful colors in flowers, birds, fish etc.
ReplyDeleteThis from Emily Dickinson:
ReplyDeleteTo make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
Ignatius of Loyola's response to "Finding God in all Things" was to invite us to "apply our senses" to the beauty of God all around us. This current Pope Francis provides Christians with the example of a human coming to his senses...and responding to the Spirit within all that he senses. I appreciate your helping us bridge the duality between faith and science, appreciate their complementarity.
Right now we are appreciating the beauty of the pure white snow. We used to love to go out and ski in it. Then we were content to walk in it. Now we are content to look out the window at the beauty of the trees laden with the snow and the beauty of the sun reflecting off of it. Thank you God for your many blessings.
ReplyDeleteWe wrote the above comment David. Miss you and Linnea.
ReplyDeleteHarvey and Doris Kallberg