“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 150:6

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4

We are members of MN Landscape Arboretum.  We try to pay attention to “What’s In Bloom … “, anytime actually, to leave chores behind and make time for wonder and praise.

Psalm 150 is a lovely song.  “Praise [God] in his sanctuary … in his mighty firmament … with [instruments] and dance!”  We are members of a bigger garden.  The whole Earth is God’s sanctuary and wildlife refuge where we wonder and marvel at what we see, hear, and smell.  Everything that breathes joins in the song – whales and ants; ancient tortoises and newborn babies; vibrant parrots and plain black crows; us; in exotic places and in our own backyards – from dawn when birds sound reveille until dusk when crickets call taps, the time for “lights out”.

A sanctuary is also a place of protection and God left it under our watch – stewards.  If it is worthy of praise, it is worthy of care and preservation.  Writer Robert Fulghum reminds us of what we were supposed to learn in kindergarten:  that we should put things back where we found them and clean up our messes.  Careless waste and pollution are commonplace, left by people far older than kindergarteners.  The news reminds us that Nature is not always friendly.  Forces we cannot control are in motion.  We ask God to give us wisdom and an unselfish attitude in managing earth’s resources; to give courage and strength to those picking up the pieces; and we praise God for all that is lovely and good.

“Praise to the Lord!  Let all that is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.

Let the amen sound from his people again.

Gladly, forever, adore him!”  Amen

(Douglas Earl Bush)

 

Verla Olson

 

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