Encounter

Creation

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Carl Gustaf Boberg (1856-1940) tr. from the Russian by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (1899-1989)
© Copyright 1953 Stuart K Hine Trust/Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

This verse is from a well-known Christian hymn and it reminds us of the greatness and vastness of creation. It invites us to connect creation with God’s creative power. Without a doubt, creation is vast and in many ways beyond our measure, which on the one hand can lead us to a place of awe and wonder, whilst on the other hand can lead us to a place of question(s) or incomprehension.

When I think about creation I am left with three words:

  • Beauty: the world in which we live is beautiful and we can see that beauty in fields and flowers, in mountains and rivers, in seas and beaches, in buildings and roads. Creation was made in all its splendour for us to enjoy.
  • Complexity: however hard I try, I simply cannot understand the complexities of creation. Whether I consider the place God has in creation or I turn my mind to the science which helps to explain creation, I can understand a little but it is too complex for any one of us to understand it all.
  • Responsibility: each of us has a responsibility to care for the world which we share. With all the news about climate change this can seem overwhelming and leave us thinking anything we do will make little difference. However, each small act to care for creation, each small act to address climate change, will make a difference.
Photo by Kristine Cinate on Unsplash

Beauty, complexity and responsibility.

I wonder what each of these words say to you?
I wonder how you respond to them and the challenge that each of us has responsibility for creation?
I wonder what three words you would choose to describe creation?

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