It’s been constantly overcast in the Midwest since mid-January so I was hunting on youtube for the Electric Light Orchestra’s Mr. Blue Sky to cheer things up a bit. Youtube is organized to offer other songs you might enjoy related to the thing you were searching for originally. So that’s how I came upon this song from the Discovery Channel, which is absurd, funny, touching and true, all in one little 60 second package. That’s hard to do so I tip my hat to the director, video editors and songwriter.  

The commercial sings the praises of the earth and all that is in it, on it and above it. One of the things I really like is that, in sync with the overall mission of the Discovery Channel, they not only praise the majestic and awesome, but the not-so-grand, which includes stuff that often gets missed or purposefully ignored: creepy crawlies that some people prefer did NOT exist; destructive forces like tornadoes, hot magma and man – note the guy shooting a bazooka; “dirty things” which encompasses just about everything else. There’s video of fireworks over some barren plain and a great whale arcing and crashing into the ocean, so there’s the ooh and ahh factor too.

(By the way, I didn’t put the little ad at the end of the song about an energy drink – not my thing and I’m not recommending)

This cable channel promo inspired me to look up Scripture that acknowledges the wonder of creation. There’s good old Psalm 19,

The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
       where their voice is not heard. (v.1-3)

Then there’s Psalm 8,

O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!
       You have set your glory
       above the heavens.

When I consider your heavens,
       the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars,
       which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
       the son of man that you care for him? (v.1, 3-4)

But like most things in life, I started zigging in the middle of my zag. I thought about the tendency of man to praise the creation and forget all about the creator. It’s our default setting: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25, NIV)

I think the creation is magnificent. My son Mark always (and I do mean always!)  thinks it cool whenever we see a grey squirrel on our porch although grey squirrels are as common as copper pennies. It’s the creation he appreciates and I have to admit, squirrels fascinate me too.

We see whitetail deer near our house. I know, some of you are thinking, “Deer – yummy!” and yes, venison burgers are part of God’s provision, but I’m thinking more about how they leap, run and glide, all with such effortless ease, like a leaf swept along by a breeze.

www.follybeach.com/sand-dollar-photo.jpgOne year at the beach we found all kinds of sand dollars – whole sand dollars, not the ones you normally see crushed into shards by the waves. I felt like I’d discovered genuine treasure. There were hermit crabs congregating in tide pools left by the receding ocean. I had never seen hermit crabs outside of pet stores. My kids played with them, collected them, released them, recollected them, made mini-environments for them in sand buckets and thoroughly enjoyed them for a whole afternoon. It was amazing.

Even as someone who knows the creator, I can focus perhaps too much on what’s made versus the Maker. So I find this last Scripture ironic and beautiful in what it says: instead of receiving the praise, creation deflects it back where it belongs. And so, in closing, I offer one last psalm:

Praise the LORD from the earth,
       you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
       stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,
       fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,
       small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,
       you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens,
       old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
       for his name alone is exalted;
       his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Psalm 148:7-13, NIV)

Take some time to revel in the creation today, then revel in its creator. Blessings.