“The Web of Creation”
Psalm 8
Sanbornton Congregational Church, UCC
June 3, 2007
(Please do not re-print or re-use without permission of the author)
Over the last few weeks, we have been graced by birds that we had never seen before – the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. If you’re not familiar with them – they are both colorful and very musical. And their song has been filling our days as well as their presence at the birdfeeder. The Peterson’s Field Guide to Birds, describes the song of the Grosbeak as, “rising and falling passages, resembles Robin’s song but mellower given with more feeling, as if a Robin has taken voice lessons.”
Then on Thursday, I paused at the kitchen window as I took a drink of water. The Grosbeak landed on the feeder and seemed to look right at me. He sang his song with his usual enthusiasm, yet in some magical way, it felt directed right at me. Almost as if he was singing – isn’t it a beautiful day! Or, good morning!
And then he and his friends were gone. I didn’t realize it until Friday night, when Diane told Fred that they’re on their way north. I like to think that he was singing “goodbye and thank you.” It’s hard to describe exactly the feeling but I felt in deep communion with that bird at that moment.
That sense of wonder is expressed in our psalm reading this morning: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?”
There is expressed in this psalm, the sense of awe and humility along with the sense of humanity’s place of responsibility in the overall web of creation. The psalm continues about human beings….”Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet….”
I wonder what the psalmist would think of how humanity has responded to this sense of responsibility. For we seem to be losing our sense of wonder at creation. As E.O. Wilson in his book, “The Creation” writes…”A wiser intelligence might now truthfully say of us at this point: here is a ….. a new and and very odd species come shambling into our universe, a mix of Stone Age emotion, a medieval self-image, and godlike technology. The combination makes the species unresponsive to the forces that count most for its own long-term survival.” (p. 10)
Basically the case he states in his book, is that species are now disappearing at an alarming rate; and that humanity is taking a huge gamble with allowing this web of creation not only to fray, but to develop huge holes caused by species disappearing.
This morning, I’d like us to reflect together on how is it that we strengthen not only the web of creation, but also the web of community, the web that connects us together; and how do we weaken this web.
There are so many ways our church family strengthens the web of community, the web of connection that links us together. Probably in more ways than we might even realize.
On this confirmation Sunday, we celebrate that our community of faith has just been made stronger by Kaylah’s beautiful affirmation of faith. We have witnessed over the course of her presence with us – how she has made our community stronger. Her leadership in the junior choir – the way her strong and steady voice helps other members of the choir gain the confidence to find their own voices. What better example of how to strengthen the web of connection between us?
Other examples -
The Spring supper
Providing food for the pantry and Bread & Roses; transportation to seniors and Seniors Sunday dinners.
And not to mention all the individual interactions during the week that are never talked about – but that provide strength, nurture and care for one another and our wider community.
Jesus during his physical time on earth was a force who strengthened the web of community – by his presence, by his advocacy, by his repairing frayed relationships torn asunder by illness, class or cultural differences.
We didn’t read the passage – but our lectionary also includes another excerpt from Jesus’ farewell speech to his disciples in the Gospel of John. He’s preparing them for when he must go away, when they will not have his physical presence any more. And their grief is palatable between the lines.
He assures them they will not be alone, that he will send a friend, an advocate to be with them.
And while they cannot imagine being without him – it is this very leave-taking that is essential to their spiritual growth. They will need to learn on their own, how to forge their own deep connection to God, to each other, to find a way to carry on Jesus’ teachings without him.
We may not welcome challenges that come our way – but maybe we should – for they make us stronger. They help us to test our wings to see how strong we really are.
We need challenges some times to understand how strong we really are.
And the good news – for us, for Kaylah and the covenant we share with her and one another – we’re supported by the love of God, God’s Holy Spirit is the wind beneath our wings.
And just as the Holy Spirit was sent to be an advocate, a friend, an enabler for the disciples to continue their ministry – the invitation to us is – how will we be the nurturer, the advocate and friend for others?
How do our choices serve to strengthen the web that connects us all or weaken it?
We strengthen it with our prayers, our reaching out to others during times of great need, We strengthen it in big ways and small with our presence, with our words of appreciation, support and love.
And when we feel strengthened in this connection and serve to strengthen it – I believe we do less damage to the web of creation. We don’t need so much stuff. We don’t need to grasp so much for the things that leave us empty and weak.
I hope and pray that the Grosbeak will return on their return trip South. I cannot imagine not ever seeing them again, or hearing their beautiful song. It was pure magic, pure joy. Amen.
