Seeing Creation

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Genesis 1:15

Spending the past four days in Yellowstone National Park has been an incredible experience for me.  We’ve had great weather and more great photo ops than I could ever have imagined.  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds.

So far the highlight has been all the wildlife sightings.  We’ve seen and photographed wolves, coyotes, bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, moose, bighorn sheep, and even a bobcat. Watching the wildlife each day it is apparent that every animal has its place in the Yellowstone ecosystem and that the role each animal plays is an important one.  The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone has verified that.

I can’t say exactly what God’s purpose for every animal is but I am convinced that each creature fulfills its purpose.  The big question is whether we humans d0.  We learn in Genesis that one of our divinely appointed roles is to care for the rest of Creation.  We are to “tend the garden” and practice a dominion that is characterized by wisdom and love.  In short, we are to pursue “Creation care.”

In Rob’s recent entry he talked about creating a garden behind his home in California.  This is one example of how we can fulfill our purpose.  Working to set apart or protect places like Yellowstone National Park is another.

Every single one of us can and should practice Creation care.  Whether we are old or young, rich or poor, male or female, live in the country or in the city, we can all do something to clean up, preserve or protect the environment God has bestowed upon us.

The animals here in Yellowstone are doing what they are supposed to do.  It is my hope and prayer that we Christians will strive to do the same.

–Chuck

Over the weekend we got about four inches of snow here in southeast Kentucky.  Along with the snow have come some very frigid temperatures.   This combination has resulted in an abundance of birds at my feeder.  Yesterday there was an incredible variety of birds dropping by to fill up on sunflower seeds.  Even birds that do not normally come to the feeder paid a visit.  I took advantage of the situation and took a lot of photographs.

When snow covers the ground the seeds I provide help the birds survive.  I am glad that I can help out.  In fact, in some ways I feel like I’m supposed to.  When humans were given “dominion” over the animals in the Creation story I believe that this “dominion” included caring for the animals.  I like to think that by feeding the birds I am practicing dominion. 

I can take this a step further and say that by feeding the birds I am partnering with God.  Recently I alluded to the verse of Scripture where Jesus says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matthew 6:26)   God has created many sources of food for the birds.  There are times—like when it snows a lot—that I can assist God by helping get this food to the birds, making it more readily assessable.  In my understanding, this, too, is a part of practicing dominion.

We live in a world where we need more people to practice dominion from a biblical perspective. Unfortunately, there is far more at stake than simply birds being fed.  Due to things like urban expansion, the widespread use of chemicals, and destruction of the world’s rain forests an alarming number of animals are in danger of becoming extinct.  All of these animals are creatures God deliberately chose to make.  If they are to survive folks like you and me are going to have to find way of partnering with God to care for and preserve them.  There is such a way; it is called practicing dominion.

–Chuck

Last night I had the privilege of presenting a series of digital “slide shows” to about 250 individuals at Camp Nathanael.  Camp Nathanael is a Christian camp located in Perry County, Kentucky.  Two friends of mine, Bob and Carol Murr, have lived and worked at the camp for several years as the camp’s host/hostess.  They are missionaries who have devoted their lives to serving God in a Christian camp setting. 

Bob and Carol are also licensed wildlife rehabilitators.  Presently they are working with a whitetail doe and four orphaned fawns (two of these are pictured above), three baby raccoons, a baby coyote, a barred owl and a red-tailed hawk.  Watching them work with these animals it is obvious that they love what they do and love the animals they work with.  Once they come under their care each animal receives a name.  Bob and Carol consider their work as wildlife rehabilitators to be part of their ministry.  They even use the animals at camp to help teach both children and adults spiritual lessons.

Caring for wildlife might just be the oldest profession there is.  In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were given the responsibility of naming and caring for all the creatures that God had made.  God said they were to have “dominion” over them.  Unfortunately many have misunderstood the true nature of this word and interpreted it to mean “do with whatever you like.”  That was never God’s intention.

Commenting on Genesis 1:28, Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, notes “The dominance is that of a shepherd who cares for, tends, and feeds the animals.”  Brueggemann goes on to say “…the task of ‘dominion’ does not have to do with exploitation and abuse.  It has to do with securing the well-being of every other creature and bringing the promise of each to full fruition.”    I get the impression that Bob and Carol Murr are doing just this and for that they are to be commended. 

–Chuck Summers