Thoughts for the Day

Benedicite, verses 15-25

O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O let the Earth bless the Lord :
yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

(Lectionary, Common Worship, 2000)

Thoughts

I have been watching programmes about people in Alaska. Many live off-grid and have to spend their short four month summer collecting enough food and wood to be self-sufficient and to survive the eight months of winter. If they can't smoke enough meat, freeze enough fish, or store enough canned and bottled vegetables, they will not survive the brutal storms and freezing temperatures of the winter months. The need for water that doesn't freeze when the temperature drops to -20 degrees plus is also essential. Then of course there are the months of darkness, with only a few hours of daylight to complete necessary chores.

Many of us live in towns and can take nature a little for granted, except perhaps when we want a day out or a holiday. These programmes on Alaska have made me think about things that many of, particularly in the west, forget, not lease the necessities needed for survival.

Today's verses from the Canticle, the Benedicite, remind us how grateful we should be to God for the natural elements of our world that make our life so good: the day as well as the night; light as well as darkness; and clouds that give respite and shade from the sun. We need to thank God for the beauty of the earth with its glorious hills, woods, and mountains; for water and even floods that quench our thirst and give us fertile land to grow our food; for the sea that regulates our weather and provides a habitat in the deep for all its creatures. Perhaps today we can spend a few months praising God for all these different aspects of nature that make such a difference to our life.

Almighty God,
we praise and bless You
for all You give us:
for the beauty of light in the day;
for the night that brings rest;
for the magnificence of the earth;
for the diversity of plants and creatures;
and the extravagance of the seas.
May we never take what You give us
for granted,
but bless You for these treasures.
Amen.