Day 21 — The Earth Belongs to God
- Scripture: Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.
- Reflection: Although according to scripture, humans are stewards in and of the world, our faith also teaches that creation belongs to Godself. The world is not property. Rather the earth and the cosmos are the places where all that God loves exists, together. We are called to consider all beings, creatures, flora and fauna — even whole ecosystems — to be interrelated, to be kindred.
Science and scripture both remind us that we are interdependent. We are connected, one to another. What happens to one species, one system, one society, touches all of us eventually.
This month, lift up ecological gratitude, rooted in environmental stewardship and justice. Pay attention to your footprint in the world, and how the world affects you. What aspects of creation are most life-giving for you right now?
Be curious about this world in which we live. Learn more about something that sparks your interest. Discover how to track prints in the winter, describe clouds or snowflakes, to identify trees, to name bird calls. Let your passion lead you.
Those who live close to the earth and sea, while they don’t romanticize nature’s life cycles, also know and respect its intricacies and rhythms. Such people can attest to the world’s interconnectedness. They aren’t all scientists and activists. They are farmers, hunters, and fisherfolk. They are athletes and teachers who depend on people’s love of the wild, the outdoors, to support outdoor recreation and conservation, too.
We are all people who can learn and appreciate that the land, ocean, and sky — all that exists below and above — are part of the web that affects our own small corners of the world. - Practice: Pick up litter, compost, recycle, avoid single-use plastic, or choose one other sustainable change today. Then explore how to build such choices into every day.
Song:
- “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson: https://youtu.be/XAi3VTSdTxU?si=W-rFitPHghd6nLUb
“The environment is where we all meet.” — Lady Bird Johnson
Nov 21 Daily Devotional