Thoughts for the Day

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Church Revised Version)

Thoughts

I have a picture in my head of God as the great clockmaker and repairer. It was he who invented the world and initiated the great plan that would evolve over time. I have no problem believing in Darwin's theory, but for me there still has to be an ultimate Creator. Nothing starts from nothing, there needs a first move of the pendulum as it were. Unfortunately, though, we humans get in the way and we have caused damage to God's creation. We can, of course, improve things, but all too often we just make things worse. It's a bit like the Repair Shop programme on TV, where items are brought in seemingly beyond repair. Often someone has already tried to repair the clock, but in doing so has made it worse, and it takes the master clock-restorer to put it back together again.

Psalm 19 gives a wonderful image of God's world, with the beauty of the heavens and the sun. If you've stood outside at night and seen the dark sky you will have a small inkling of the power, the glory, and the majesty of the God whom we worship. May we give thanks today for God's beautiful world; may we pray for all who seek to repair its problems; and may we resolve to do one thing today to help heal this fractured world.

Lord God Almighty,
we thank You for our beautiful,
intricately created world.
We thank you for its creatures,
and for the variety of its peoples.
May we seek to help repair
the problems that humans have created,
and take one step today to change our ways.
Keep us ever mindful that we too
are called to care for the earth
and all its creatures.
Amen.