Praise the Lord

The Psalm for this Sunday encourages all creation to praise God. "Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.  Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.  Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.  Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies." It reminded me of St. Francis' hymn "All creatures of our God and king." He is known as the patron saint of animals, and often garden stores carry statues of him. Francis believed that all of creation could praise God. It seems the psalmist did too. They are both reminders of the gift we have to praise God. Today we said goodbye to that which was mortal of our friend Barb Waite, which is a sad occasion. Yet as I write the sun is breaking in to my office. It seems that the warm temperatures could be here to stay. The summer is coming. Life is springing out. It reminds me that all of creation brings God glory. Joel Salatin, the famous farmer, says "Glory speaks to uniqueness; what makes God God, you you, me me, and a pig a pig." (from The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs" I imagine that as the birds and bugs, the creepy things which crawl, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, as they begin their springtime habits, they are bringing glory to God. By being uniquely how God created them, they are praising God. God has uniquely created you. And you have the gift of praising God as only you can. May you praise God with your whole being this week.