“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”  Psalm 103:19  

“Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God, the almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.”  Revelation 19:6-7

I imagine God high in the sky gazing down upon Earth, looking around at the sun and moon, planets and stars, rather like the Apollo 8 astronauts.  As the crew, Frank Borman, William A. Anders, James A. Lovell Jr., watched the Earth emerge from darkness,  Anders was moved to take the much loved photo “Earthrise”.  Just as God looked and saw everything was good, from his spectacular vantage point Anders observed, “'You know, we really live on a beautiful little planet.”  Anticipating a huge audience on Christmas Eve, advised to say something profound, the crew read the first ten verses of Genesis.   

God still would see the courses of nature in motion, and good – trees blossoming; green plants and flowers springing up; birds migrating, weaving their nests; farmers and gardeners trusting soil, rain and sun; animals giving birth … and people rejoicing.  Anything else?  God would see a dumping ground of DDT barrels on the Pacific Ocean floor, and a garbage patch of plastic waste and debris floating across that same ocean.  God would see empty bottles and cans left in parks for others to pick up.  God would see heaps of trash, oxygen tanks, left by climbers on his loftiest of mountains.  God would even see space debris.  God would see people quarreling over who gets what, how to use – and misuse – resources, as if the planet had no limit.   We see astounding views and wonders right here with our feet on the ground, all around us.  

We have a duty to care for it and preserve it so God will still see good; and our children, their children and grandchildren will be moved to rejoice and exult and give God glory.  

Dear Lord, “You never cease to amaze me!”  Forgive me when I fail to notice or take for granted all the wonders and glory of the Earth.  Help me do my part to take care of it and to revere it as a gift from your gracious hand.  Amen  

Verla Olson