The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the sons of men.–Psalm 115:16
Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you… –Genesis 1:29
After reading so many of the amazing Lenten devotionals this past few of weeks, it seems that there are many kinds of Beloved Communities, some large and some quite small. This got me thinking of a more natural beloved community.
I’ve been reading Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She describes the diversity of plants and how they relate to each other and then how we relate to them. The plants communicate with each other through their roots warning of trouble and nourishing each other through their exchange of different nutrients. The trees provide shelter for all types of animals and insects and drop their leaves to nourish the earth and again provide shelter for creatures through the cold winter. And our gardens provide beauty and nourishment for us when treated with respect and loving care. I don’t know if plants have emotions but like to think they do.
What an amazing beloved community God created when he created our world!
God, may we always cherish this beautiful world you have created.
Peggy Harrison