Guest Post by Rev. Elizabeth Burnette
Every morning I drive my daughters to school across Thompson Bridge just as the sun is rising, and we witness the everchanging patterns of light the rising sun creates across the water and the tree line.
Every evening I cook dinner with the sun setting across my backyard with its rays pouring through my kitchen windows, creating patterns of light in our home and on our walls.
On weekends our family walks to the lake underneath a canopy of trees, or we hike up mountains to see the tops of those trees.
The glory of God’s creation surrounds us, and you would think I would get used to how stunning it is, but the truth is, I hope I never do. I hope I never take for granted how miraculous it is to watch nature take its course with me, a humble human, witnessing its beautiful transformations.
Psalm 19:1 reminds us: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Watching and staring in awe at the work of God reminds me how alive I am and how truly good God is.
This year, after many months of uncertainty and confusion in our world, I am not just thankful to be alive; I am thankful to feel alive, too. The beauty of the earth helps me know God is still at work in our world, and it helps me feel awake and alive. For that, I am deeply grateful.