April 22nd is observed as ‘Earth Day’. But really everyday is earth day since creation! (Gen 1:28-31).
Here you see an image with concentric circles displaying the created beings with the 7th ring being clear to depict ‘rest’. What follows is a flower pattern representing the petals of flower to show a bloom. God indeed has created all things to bloom and flourish. What I absolutely like about this visual is that it was not planned at all. I only planned the days of creation in circles. I started with the land and waters and then began the idea of drawing the creation in concentric circles. I miscalculated the concentric circles and ended up with a extra/blank circle (the outer most circle) which on pondering led me to think of the sabbath! As I continued to talk to the Holy Spirit I began drawing loops. Once the loops were filled and decorated what i saw before me was the answer to the very question I was pondering about in God’s presence – a flower. A flower is a sign of a flourishing plant. A plant that is thriving and that I believe is the essence of our existence. To thrive, to bloom, to flourish for the glory of God. We bloom together with all creation and the bloom is inter-dependent with each sphere of created beings. We are indeed called to care for the earth we inhabit.
We love in such a time when the earth requires much mending. The number of species that are facing extinction is alarming. The misuse of technology (plastic everywhere, dumping of waste and chemicals in water), the inability to curb our populations and the way we manage our resources is gone so far that we are in desperate times to save our planet. We have abused the earth for so many decades , we now know that. We can’t afford to cut down trees because we want to make space for people to meet, we cannot afford to fail in our responsibility to care for our Father’s world. Do check out http://www.earthday.org for more ideas on how to care for this world. You can make a difference! Each and every one of us can!
This is my Father’s World
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees
Of skies and seas
His hands the wonders rod
This is my Father’s world
The birds there carols raise
The morning light the lilly white
Declare their maker’s praise
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all thats fare
In rustling grass I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere
This is my Father’s world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the sphere
The above image is available as a resource for contemplative coloring. If you would like a copy please fill out the form below.
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