Daily Meditation: "Responsibility" -- Thursday, August 13, 2020

SCRIPTURE

“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.” - Psalm 65:9

REFLECT

I think I’ve probably mentioned it more than once from the pulpit, but I do not have a green thumb. Flowers and shrubs in my care do not fare well, I’m saddened to say, so I’m often thankful my children are not plants. I do a much better job taking care of people than flora.

That said, it serves to remind me that those plants need my help if they’re going to survive. Could God do it? Sure. Yet, that’s not the way it works. Mother Nature plays her part, but then I need to do mine, too. If I don’t, those poor plants face a potentially tough road. When it comes to Creation, we have a sacred responsibility to play our part.

That responsibility was profoundly on my mind and heart when it came to deciding what to do about the church through this pandemic and keeping our church family safe, as well as supporting the decision to not open our Preschool this fall. It informs my sheltering in place and wearing a mask and gloves the few times I have to go out in public and leave the house, as well as the boys doing school virtually this fall. Its what keeps me putting stuff in the recycling bin, keeping the door to the fridge shut, turning off lights, driving a low emissions vehicle, and using minimal amounts of water.

What we do, or don’t do, as regards our care of Creation, has repercussions. God grants us the gift of The Garden and then gives us the sacred responsibility of taking care of it as well as the animals and people that share it with us. When we do, The Garden thrives. When we don’t, we run the real risk of doing substantial harm.

So, despite my lack of green thumb, I’ll keep watering the plants. It’s my responsibility.

PRAYER

God of Creation, in gratitude for the gift of this Garden that we share may we always do our best to care for it and those that share it with us, as our lives truly do depend on it.

Amen.

Peace,

Shawn