SETTING THE CONTEXT FOR THE SCRIPTURES

After Moses brought the 10 Commandments down off Mt Sinai, he went back to God to hear more. The Lord gave him a long list of laws covering a wide range of topics from the treatment of slaves, to punishments of certain crimes, to amounts for restitution, to the treatment of foreigners. In the passage we are about to read, before the invention of modern science and crop rotation, God talks about the care of the farmlands and rest or Sabbath time.

Read Exodus 23:10-13

Psalm 104 considers and celebrates God’s creative work and God’s provision for that work. I invite you to give your imagination free rein to picture this passage rather than just read the words.

Read Psalm 104:1-2a, 10-24

THE SERMON

As I was preparing this sermon, I was very tempted to just put up photograph after photograph of God’s creation then sit down without a word and let creation speak for itself. In fact, as I was writing this, I was drawn again and again to look at photographs of nature on my computer that I have collected over time and to search for new images painted by the words of the psalm. I highly recommend a book called Inspirational Images by one of our retired pastors named Rev. J. Lloyd Ewart. Lloyd has taken some amazing photographs of God’s creation and incorporates words of Scripture, wisdom and prayer; this book will help you to drink in some of the awesome beauty of creation.^[i] As tempted as I was though, I decided to share a few thoughts about nature and growing in love.

It is clear from our passages that God intends for us to care for creation. It always impresses me to see laws of the ancient Hebrew people that helped them live in healthy ways long before science figured out how and why these practices are important. God instituted allowing a farm’s soil to rejuvenate long before studies on crop rotation and soil depletion.

Psalm 104 is a glorious celebration of God’s handiwork. The images are breathtaking. And isn’t it interesting how humans are not lifted up as over and above the rest of creation, but are included as simply one of the creatures that depends upon God for their necessities? Our duty to be good stewards of God’s handiwork is clear, but what does the natural world have to do with growing in love: tools for strengthening relationships, which is this sermon series’ theme?

I don’t think one can grow in love without an open heart. There are many forces in our lives that tempt us to close our hearts, to put a hard shell around them so we won’t be hurt, but if we close our hearts we restrict our ability to feel, not only to feel pain but our ability to feel joy, too. We restrict our ability to experience awe and wonder, compassion and a desire for justice for the downtrodden. We restrict our ability to love. I think God uses creation, not only the scenery around us, but the pets that play an intimate role in our lives to open our hearts.

Opening our hearts is not always easy. What better way to open our hearts to the Creator than to immerse ourselves in creation. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of life into God’s handiwork is a great way to focus us upon God. When I used to backpack, I often felt God’s presence profoundly as I sat on a rock high up on a mountain side and soaked in the warmth of the sun. I am swimming a lot these days and I pray while I swim; God has been speaking to me and teaching me as I watch the interplay of light and shadow through the water on the floor of the pool. Jesus regularly went out into the wildness to pray and to listen to God. Even with all the demands upon his time, he made time to meet God in the wilderness. Who better to open our hearts to, especially if they have been broken than to the Source of Eternal Love; the more connected we are to God, the more love we have to share with others. The more we open our hearts and surrender our hearts to God, the more we can grow in our Christ-likeness not only toward the ones we love most, but towards all people.

At our Pastor’s Gathering last week, seminary professor Rev. Dr. Luther Smith talked to us about spiritual growth. In one session he talked about the essential disciplines for spiritual growth and the first one was the embrace of beauty.^[ii] Creation is critical to our spiritual growth because through the beauty of creation we can experience and embrace wonder. We can experience beauty in other ways, but I want to focus on creation today. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes - The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”^[iii] I believe that that overwhelming beauty and wonder helps to open our hearts. One of my seminary professor’s was hitchhiking through Israel somewhat adrift in his life. On night he couldn’t get a ride so he lay on his back in a field and watched the night sky. As he considered the universe above him, he had a profound sense of God that changed his life forever. Sometimes we need to cultivate our sense of wonder because our hearts close up. Maybe they close because we get so busy or we’re stressed, or sick. We need to seek places of beauty to embrace. And when we cultivate that sense of wonder with our loved one or loved ones, we grow together and we have shared memories that deepen our bond together.

Shared memories are so important. One of the things I learned when I was the youth pastor at Central was the importance of making memories with youth and children. They may not remember a single sermon or Sunday School lesson, but they will remember a mission trip for life. Making memories is just as important with our loved ones. At my last church, I visited a woman regularly in the last days of her life. She told me to make lots of good memories for they continue to bring you joy in your old age. They also bind us together with the people who were a part of those memories. We decided about 7 years ago to visit all fifty states together before the girls grew up and left home. I have to say that it was one of the best decisions we ever made. We have had more fun discovering parts of our country together. I was surprised by how much that sense of discovery and adventure nourished my soul and opened my heart. It has drawn us closer as a family. We have a scrapbook full of shared memories that we’ll carry the rest of our lives that will help us remain close.

The Pledge of Shalom calls us to treat the environment and all living things, including our pets, with respect and care. I’d like to take just a moment to talk about how our pets can help us open our hearts and grow in love. I believe that God uses different means to reach us. God created us with such variety having different things speak to each of us. Pets are one of those means. Some of us are pet people and I for one see God touching me and others through pets. I know that there are others who don’t experience that and that is OK. I am a dog lover. Our golden retriever mix models unconditional love and loyalty. Whenever we pull into our garage, there is Maggie tail wagging thrilled to see us. It feels so good to be greeted that way. You feel loved. And she does not reserve that for just our family. We had a carpenter working on our deck the other day and George looked out the window to see Maggie licking his face while he was trying to measure the deck! Even when we have been thoughtless, when we’ve forgotten to refill her water bowl, she greets us with joy. And when we’ve fussed at her, in minutes she’s back trying to restore the relationship. Sometimes opening our hearts to people is just too much. Maybe we have been hurt too deeply in the past, but it is just too big a risk. I think God uses pets to help open our hearts. Maggie’s unconditional love draws love from me. She proves to me over and over again that she will not reject my love. For some of us we start opening our hearts by opening them to our pets and I think that is part of God’s plan. I remember B.G. (before George) I was going to have my first surgery. The night before I was very frightened and I couldn’t sleep. Finally I got up and went downstairs feeling very alone. I prayed for comfort. I looked up from my prayer and there was my parents’ dog. He had come into the room and quietly lay down near me. He stayed and waited with me until I went back up to bed and he brought me great comfort. I believe that God used this dog as an instrument of love in my time of need. It was a good lesson to me about the power of presence. We can learn and practice important relational characteristics such as responsibility, patience, compassion and kindness with our pets which crack open our hearts and can help us grow in love with humans.

God indeed has created many ways for us to grow in love. One tool is right at hand; the created world is a source of inspiration, is a binding force, is a model of love and loyalty that help us grow in love and strengthen our relationships. Amen.

Sermon delived by Rev. Nancy Cushman on February 12, 2006.