Thought for the Day - Thursday 7 May

Thought for the Day – Thursday 7^th May

 ‘The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.’ 1 Cor. 15: 41

How blessed we have been up to now in our lockdown to have had sunny days. Sunny days mean our spirits seem higher, we can enjoy our daily walk, we can perhaps spend time in the garden either working or just relaxing, we can feel its warmth on our skin and maybe even spend time dreaming of past days in the sun on holiday or of future days to come when we might be able to holiday in the sun once more. How blessed we are to have the sun rise each day and just by being there lighten not just our days but our hearts and minds and souls too!

I wonder though if you have noticed the moon these last few nights. I do sometimes think we take the moon appearing each night for granted – maybe even more so than the sun appearing every day! After all, what does the moon actually bring to our lives – darkness, nightfall? Well indeed it does, but then without the moon our gravity would be impaired, we might all be floating around in the air all the time instead of rooted on the earth! We might not be able to paddle or swim in the sea because the water might never come in to the shore and out again with the tides caused by the pull of the moon on the earth. Night might be a time of total darkness when the sun goes down leaving us without even a glimmer of light.

I have to say these last few nights the moon has been spectacular – so bright, so clear with each and every crater on its surface visible to the naked eye and even more spectacular when viewed through binoculars! Some say it is because now we are in lockdown the atmosphere is much cleaner and healthier because we have no planes flying, fewer cars travelling around and less factory pollution. I have to say I do think the blue of the sky is a lot bluer since lockdown – have you noticed that at all?  By the way, clouds permitting – the moon is to be even more spectacular tonight – so why not try and have a look at it if you can – hopefully you will indeed see it in all its splendour and be amazed at how beautiful it is.

Looking to the splendour of the moon these last few nights and being thankful for the splendour of our sun and our sunny days has made me reflect so much on our Creator God – who created all of this and why? Well, for us, because he loves us! Indeed my reflections took me to Psalm 8 where it says just that:

‘O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.

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?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

How marvellous our creation is, each part interacting with and so dependent on the other and all thanks to God, whom Psalm 8 says we should praise each and every day for giving us such a majestic earth for which to care.

At this time we can see how a tiny little virus can change so much of creation, we can see how creation can be impacted by something so small. We can also see though, how a few changes to our lifestyles like walking more and driving and flying less can also impact creation; for with less pollution and clearer skies we can restore that protective atmospheric layer around our planet just a little and our world becomes an even more splendid place on which to live for us and for others around the world.

So each day do look to the splendour of the sun, look also to the splendour of the moon each night and be thankful to God that he created them for you!  

Prayer

Loving Lord,

When we look to the splendour of the sun and the moon we realise that this world you created is more wonderful than we could ever express in words. It is truly awesome and your love for us is truly amazing! We know you have entrusted us with the whole of the earth and have put everything we see into the care of our hands. Lord, help us not shirk that responsibility but rather honour our calling as caretakers of your creation until we see that the earth is indeed truly filled with your glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.