By Pastor Kris
Hertsgaard Kincaid
Christ Lutheran Church,
Preston
God continuously creates and there is much to enjoy in our natural world. During the summer I love the depths of green growing throughout the driftless region. I love the changing flow of the rivers as water rains down and fills them or dry weeks lessen their flow. I love the wildflowers blooming, the crops growing, and the animals finding their legs and making their way purposefully through the pasture, God’s creation has much to teach us about cycles, systems, ebbs and flows, and how to remain grounded despite what’s happening in the world around us.
The natural world evolved without human help. We are here through the grace of God, called to tend to all creation. Instead, we often act as if creation was created only for humankind. With the gifts of nature all around us, how might we join in their care so people for generations to come may find the peace and nourishment only nature provides? My family lives in the country, and when we first moved to our home, monarchs covered our deciduous trees each fall. Now, only a few flutter through as they migrate. To help the butterflies we planted milkweed and other natural pollinators in our perennial garden. Visiting a friend’s home recently, their hummingbird feeder hosted nearly a dozen humming birds that evening. Following a summer storm another friend recently needed to cut down a 150-year-old burr oak. He plans to plant trees this fall so they may grow to become the next generation’s oaks.
In Job we read, “Ask the beasts and they will teach you; The birds of the air, and they will tell you; Ask the plants of the earth and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of every human being.” (Job 12:7-10)
As we enjoy summer let’s pause to root down into the earth, look up at the rain drops as they fall on us, breathe deeply of our fresh air, tend carefully to fires we set, consult the plants and animals, and thank our Creator for all that the Creator provides.