Planet Earth II
Recently I purchased the BBC series Planet Earth II narrated by David Attenborough. I’ve spent the last few days watching the DVDs. As one reviewer of the series stated, “’Five stars’ isn’t really enough for this program.” I highly recommend the series to anyone who is interested in nature. The videography is absolutely amazing and the narration riveting. You will no doubt learn much as you watch the segments dedicated to Islands, Mountains, Jungles, Deserts, Grasslands, and Cities. You will also likely find yourself longing to know more.
I am thankful for nature series like Planet Earth. They enable a person to experience vicariously the wonders of God’s Creation. Watching Planet Earth II I saw creatures and landscapes I will never be able to see firsthand. I also learned much about this planet that I did not know. I found myself marveling over how various animal species have been able to adapt to their environments and how everything in nature in interconnected.
Watching Planet Earth II proved to be something of a religious experience for me. Over and over I found myself echoing the words of the Psalmist, “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (104:24) Time and again I found myself offering thanks and praise to God for being the Creator of such a marvelous planet.
There were portions of the series, however, that were sobering. The producers did not hide the fact that many of the earth’s species and landscapes are now threatened by climate change, various forms of pollution and loss of habitat. The very earth which supports human life is being devastated by those same humans. I’m glad this tragic element was included in the series because we need to be informed. Rachel Carson once said, “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” I can’t imagine a person watching the Planet Earth series and not wanting to do more to save our threatened world. If for no other reason than this I would recommend this program to you.
Needless to say, there are lots of other great nature programs to be seen on television. I encourage you to watch them from time to time so that you, too, may marvel at the wonders of God’s Creation and be inspired to do something to preserve and protect that Creation.
–Chuck