A Precious Gift

The creation is a precious gift from God.  All we need to give and sustain life is wrapped up inside of it.  As we read those ancient words, "In the beginning when God created..." (Genesis 1:1), it is clear that all of creation is sacred.  Certainly, on those nights when we watch with apprehension and fear approaching violent weather, we wonder if the word "all" is truly appropriate.  Yet, even though the creation sometimes reveals a dark and mysterious dimension, we can only go back to those beginning words which assure us that nothing has been brought into being which has not first passed through the hands of the Creator.  As we consider such things, we surely live perplexed with the mystery of creation.    

What we do know is that as we live within the creation, we are immersed in sacred mystery which sustains us.  The land, the air, the water, the plant life that grows, and the animals which St Francis called our brothers and sisters all bear the markings of the sacred.  It is a sad moment when what is sacred is no longer honored as a gift from God, but something to be exploited for personal gain.  Of course, part of the dilemma we face is that we have become so disconnected from the creation.  

It is not that we fail to walk midst it with love and respect, but that we walk among it without seeing it.  We have forgotten the smell of the dirt, we no longer remember the feel of running water on our feet, and breathing deeply the fresh crispness of a new day is something we do not have the inclination to do.  God has graced us with such a wonderful gift.  It is a gift  that has a way of renewing itself each day despite our careless living.  Gratitude is best shown as we breathe in and then with the rest of creation breathe out our praise to the Creator of all that is and yet to be.