Tuesday, January 16

Stop and Smell the Colors of the Wind

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Today's psalmist took a long, hard look at God's creation and saw God in everything they saw -- the heavens, the waters, the clouds, the wind, fire, earth, mountains, and thunder. God is everywhere, and God's fingerprints are on everything.

It's easy to get so caught up in daily life that I sometimes forget to stop and look around at all the things that remind me of God's creating hand. I get caught up in buying stuff, so I forget that nothing can truly be owned. I get wrapped up in keeping busy, so I forget to rejuvenate and connect with God, and with my own self, too. I get wrapped up in changing the people around me, so I fail to see who they actually are. 

Years ago, Disney came out with the movie, Pocahontas. One of the threads woven throughout the film was just that -- take the time to observe the world around you instead of being so focused on changing or owning it. Here's Colors of the Wind, when Pocahontas helped John Smith see things in a way he never had before. Enjoy!

Narrative Lectionary Text: Psalm 104:1-9

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
   O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty, 
   wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 
   you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
   you ride on the wings of the wind, 
you make the winds your messengers,
   fire and flame your ministers. 

You set the earth on its foundations,
   so that it shall never be shaken. 
You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains. 
At your rebuke they flee;
   at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. 
They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
   to the place that you appointed for them. 
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
   so that they might not again cover the earth.