REFLECTIONS

July 14th, 2024

All the birds of the air nested in its boughs, / all the beasts of the field gave birth under its branches; / all the great nations lived in its shade.

It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, / for its roots went down to abundant waters.

Ezekiel 31:6-7


Beauty of the Earth

From the window the morning lay still and gray readying itself for birds atop the trees to fill the air with song, and for armies of insects to mobilize along the ground in search of food bits to serve their communities. Secluded within the center of the scene, a small pond posed like a photograph in its stillness except for a few tiny ripples from two migrant ducks passing through on their way to somewhere. They glided effortlessly about the pond making no sound at all except for an occasional dive below to go fishing.

Sometimes it’s nice to pause to absorb the beauty God provides us. It’s displayed in colors, shapes, movements, and sounds synchronized with intricate balance. Everything fits together, each part with its place, yet each one relies on all the others. Tiny details comprise it all, details beyond the power of the naked eye to see or the most brilliant minds to comprehend.

How well the words of the hymn express, “For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies.” One cannot help but feel the presence of God when gazing on the beauty of the earth, and sing, “Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.”

The quiet of that morning displayed the magnificence of God’s creation, the disguised simplicity within its unfathomable intricacy, moving from day to day so effortlessly that no one sees it all. But who would think a pause to sense the beauty of God’s creation would reveal a secluded little pond as God’s provision for two migrant creatures in His world.

*****

The ducks fished for a while then disappeared as silently as they came. But filled.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org


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