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"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being." (Job 12: 7-10 NRSV).
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it…” (Psalm 24:1 NRSV)
Or as Job says, ‘who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?’
Earth Day, April 22, 2025
“Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” And the answer is ever so obvious! We don’t know. Or worse, we don’t know and we won’t listen. It may be the same thing in the end. God’s creatures have much to teach us and the birds are eager to tell us what is happening around then, caused by us and what we are doing to the creation.
The plants are eager to take part in this teaching and the fish are bubbling with the hope that you will listen to them. And whether is comes from the fish of the sea or the birds of the air or plants and animals the message is the same.
Human activity is threatening the balance that God established in this wonderful world we call home. The birds will tell you that the CO2 content of the air is polluting the skies and contributing to the temperature rise experienced in every part of the world. The fish will tell you that their environment is plagued with plastic along with hundreds of chemicals and compounds.
Even the worms are wiggling their way into this conversation.
Go ahead and ask the plants what erosion is doing to their friends the soils of the earth. The animals, from the tiniest bugs to the biggest beasts, will tell you of extinct cousins and friends now gone through human activity.
I often sit on our seawall and listen. The waves are lapping, the gulls are crying, the fish are splashing and, if I am quiet enough, a mink, which lives in the seawall, will poke its head out. Behind me, at this time of the year, are the small gardens waiting for my attention and care eager for the flowers and vegetables that even now are sprouting. It is here I feel most the echoes of Job’s question; ‘who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?’ And I answer, yes! The earth is the Lord’s!
It’s time to talk… or maybe we’ve done enough talking and it’s time to listen. We can’t say that creation hasn’t spoken loud and clear.
Earth Day is a good time to step out into a spring day and simply listen, and learn from the creation itself. It has so very much to say to us!
Prayer: Let the earth bless the Lord;
let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you springs;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all people on earth;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever." (Daniel 3: 74-82, 87 NRVS)
Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do. - Wendell Berry
Kenn Stright
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