EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC, REMEMBER THE BEAUTY OF CREATION
The beauty of creation is not exactly the top item on peoples’ minds right now. Ugly, awful evil seems dominant. My daily New York Times is mostly filled with stories of cascading devastation: overwhelmed health facilities; exploding coronavirus cases in the US; lock-down of India’s 1.3 billion people; millions of desperately poor refugees living packed together like sardines waiting helplessly for the coronavirus to roar voraciously through their crowded shacks and tents.
Why talk about the beauty of creation at a time like this? Because the bursting daffodils and budding trees remind us that nature is still working its wonders. Because Genesis nine tells us of God’s everlasting covenant with humanity and all living things. The rainbow shining through the clouds is God’s promise to always care for us and the earth.
The current devastation is truly awful. We must battle it with all our might. But it will pass. We will get through this. In time, this devastation will end. I think that reflecting now on the gorgeous beauty of creation can lift our spirits and reassure us that this plague will surely stop.
Nothing helps me meditate on creation’s beauty more than our favorite vacation spot along Lake Nicatous in northern Maine where Arbutus and I go every summer.
One morning, more than 20 years ago, I slipped into my favorite spot for devotions – – a big Nicaraguan hammock swinging between gorgeous birch trees along the shore of Lake Nicatous And I began to think about the beauty of creation.
A few cumulus clouds floated across a clear blue sky, the sun danced on the sparkling waves, and the soft summer breeze drifted in, whispering of pickerel and bass.
Arbutus and I dearly love to get away every summer to this isolated spot where nothing but the haunting cry of the loons breaks the solitude of the night. A few weeks of doing almost nothing except fishing, picking wild berries, and checking on our pair of nesting bald eagles calms our spirits and renews our love after months of hectic work.
The hammock is a favorite spot on this beloved lake. Almost every time I settle into its soft folds, deep gratitude to God floods over me. As I look past fluttering birch leaves into the depths of fluffy clouds scattered through the light blue sky, I regularly experience overflowing thankfulness for the cascading abundance of God’s blessing in my life and the beauty of creation.
Quiet joyful gratitude was especially strong that morning as I swung gently in the breeze. Just as it has many times before, a favorite chorus came to mind. Softly I started to sing:
Thank you, O my Father for giving us your Son,
and leaving the Spirit, ‘til the work on earth is done.
I love that song so full of truth and beauty, but I realized its focus is on redemption, not creation. Its wonderful words did not quite capture my joy and gratitude for the swaying birch, sparkly waves, and blue sky.
Slowly, without consciously deciding to, I begin to rewrite Keith and Melody Green’s song with words about creation. My mind and heart set to work and I soon had the chorus:
Thank you, Blessed Three, our God,
For giving us the world, tall and small,
And leaving us as stewards, to trace your steps,
And treasure all.
Later I added the verses based on the melody of “There is a Redeemer:“
There is a Creator, Father fount of all,
from whom all flowering fullness flowed, at his call.
There is a Creator, eternal Word and Son,
through whom all stunning splenders of this world were spun.
There is Creator, hov’ring Spirit, bond of love
sustaining your world of wondrous worth,
immanent above.
Thank you Blessed Three, our God,
For giving us the world, tall and small,
And leaving us as stewards, to trace your steps,
and treasure all.
Obviously, I’m not a poet! If you feel inspired, share your poetic inspiration with me.
As we struggle with the present evil, take time to reflect on the beauty of creation. Let memories of your favorite experience of creation’s beauty help you through this hard time of isolation and fear. And let the emerging signs of spring remind you that the present darkness will eventually end.
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