Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, January 13, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
God’s creatures are awe-inspiring. Sure, maybe we’re desensitized to squirrels and pigeons—or whatever local fauna surrounds your locale—so much as to make them seem commonplace. But even these creatures are amazing if you stop to look at them. And then when you see something rare, like the time I witnessed a huge bull moose crashing through the forest in northern Minnesota, it takes your breath away (though a little of that might have been terror).
In God’s wisdom, God created incredible diversity, and all God’s creatures live in delicate balance with one another in myriad ecosystems. Then, of course, we humans blunder ham-handedly into these ecosystems without any thought and the next thing you know, species go extinct. Yes, there is much work to be done there. But at the same time, I encourage you to stop and really take in the beauty of the animals all around you, from the curve of your cat’s tail around his feet to the sleek lines of the hawk on the freeway light post, to the delicate claws on a squirrel’s front feet as she nibbles an acorn. And as you do, bask in the knowledge of the wisdom of God.
What amazes me most about the animals God has created?