Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Living on earth Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Isaiah 45:18 Thus says the Lord, who is God, creator of the heavens: "I established the earth, and I did not create it to be a waste but designed it to be lived in. I am the Lord, and there is no other." Another question from God, this time to Job: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? ... Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?" Turns out God is a poet. He brings words to bear on all things, every one of which He created. He made them not to be a waste, but to be lived in. How then shall I live? Why, of course with joy and gratitude and awe. That precludes littering, lying, killing and every other kind of carelessness with animals, plants and human beings. This kind of living means learning to be aware of beauty. It means learning silence as a response to the music of mountain streams, wolves baying at the moon, symphonies, and the compelling rhythms of Irish dance. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it: so sings David in Psalm 24. He sings and sings. Let the earth rejoice. When I am finally done defining and questioning God (which in his wisdom He seems to allow), I can look up, I can become still, I can open my ears. God says over and over, "I made this world to be lived in. I love you. Live in it. Live well." Your view is the longest view, Lord. You made the world and you know all your plans for it. I just live here for awhile, learning what I can, learning to listen, learning to follow. You make all my moments precious; let me feel your presence deep down into my soul. "; Add      Edit    Delete