Dear Friends of Longview Chapel,
“I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour…. How do I talk to a little flower? Through it I talk to the Infinite. And what is the Infinite? It is that silent, small voice… that still, small voice.” — Dr. George Washington Carver
Dr. George Washington Carver was a devout Christian who lived from about 1864 (he was born a slave in Missouri, so the exact year is unknown) to 1943. He had a daily spiritual practice of getting up before dawn to pray in the forest. He believed his conversations with plants informed his numerous scientific breakthroughs and patents. He said, “Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.”
God’s voice does speak to us in so many ways through creation. So many of the words of the writers of Psalms connect to a part of creation. For Carver, God helped him to develop methods to help farmers care for the land and soil using crop rotation and other things to stop soil depletion. His work was so essential that he was recognized in the United States as well as England for his work. “The voice of God” encouraged him to promote care for the land and for people, too, as he promoted racial harmony. His life was one that honored the gift of God’s creation in all of its many forms.
This Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day. People here and around the world will be doing specific things to care for the earth, such as:
• Picking up trash
• Reducing energy use
• Savoring a nature walk
• Recycling unused items
• Planting a tree or other plant
• Learning ways to reduce your carbon footprint
• Becoming aware of organizations and legislation that support care for the earth.
This Sunday, our congregation will be celebrating the gift of God’s creation, too. Take a moment this week to sit on the porch or a bench or take a walk and breathe in the gift of God’s amazing earth. We are blessed to be its caregivers. What is the “voice of God” nudging us to do?
Loving Creation With You,
Pastor Donna