The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. ~ Psalm 19: 1-4

When Earth was created, God entrusted us as its stewards and calls us to care for it and each other in all our actions. When we make environmentally-wise choices we are celebrating and respecting creation, giving thanks for Earth’s abundant resources, and being good stewards with what we’re given. Spending time in nature is an opportunity to experience God’s love with all your senses – God has created the brilliant colors of the fall leaves, the fragrance of the flowers, the tickle of a warm breeze on the back of your neck, the sound of moving water, and the flavor of wild blueberries.

There are dozens of ways to appreciate the natural world God has created for us, even if you don’t usually consider yourself the “outdoor type.” What will you do to appreciate and protect our natural environment?

Today, I can:

– Take a walk without wearing headphones.
– Eat a family meal outside (if the weather calls for it).
– Start a hiking or walking club at my church to enjoy fellowship in God’s creation.
– Look up the parks and other natural areas that are close to me and see what kind of activities are available for the season. Many parks might have equipment rental for enjoying activities like kayaking, snowshoeing or bicycling.

In the future, I can:

– Donate money or write to my legislators about protecting my favorite natural, public spaces.
– Include natural spaces in my vacation plans to learn about the environment and ecosystems of new places.
– Learn more about the plants and animals native to my community and how they function together in the ecosystem.
– Plant pollinator-friendly flowers in my yard and gardens.
– Plan an outdoor worship opportunity focused on Creation.

Source: Interfaith Creation Care of the South Metro is an organization of volunteers representing 15 faith communities in the South Metro. We collaborate to create content like this and to bring Creation-focused events and resources to all faith communities in the area.