As Christians, we just celebrated the love God has shown us in Jesus. He was born into our world as a tiny human baby, this Son of God. He was born in a humble place and time, and He came to rescue us. This is God’s plan.
Here we are again, at the beginning of a New Year! Why does it urge us to plan, or to renew our efforts to get right all the things we didn’t do well in past years, or plan what we want to accomplish in the coming year? These thoughts may not seem connected, yet all God created He gave to us to enjoy, use, and care for. This too is part of God’s plan.
“The heavens are telling the glory of God and all creation is shouting for joy, come dance in the forest, come play in the field and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord.” --Psalm 19 (Canticle of the Sun, GIA Publications, Marty Haugen)
Have you looked at the vastness and beauty of the stars, or experienced the magnificence of a sunrise over the ocean? Does your heart recognize the creator in His creation?
“For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.” --Colossians 1:16-17
God continually draws us to Himself through His love and actions in our lives. He presents us with an amazing world and asks us to care for it. Most of us can admit that our lifestyles and choices have added to the destruction of creation in some way. Yes, we are all busy. Many are overwhelmed by issues in their own lives, or in the world around them. Yet, we are not alone. God comes to show us the way.
We can’t fix what has happened to creation, but we can look at the bigger picture and see that it is made up of many individual choices. We can decide to take better care of God’s creation in our own lives. Reduce waste, reuse, recycle, avoid using single- use plastics, conserve water, grow food; find time to walk on the beach or in the woods, let your feet touch the earth. We were made for this, and this was made for us.
Here are some simple ideas for the New Year. Begin each day with gratitude. Look around you at the beauty of the earth and sky and let it remind you of God’s presence. Again, look at the big picture. God gave us His creation, and He gave us each other to help us on our journey to Him. He calls us to care for and to love both. Reflect on these thoughts and ask God to show you the ways you should go, and the things you should do, being ever thankful for His love. Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN