A Beautiful Land

Our community lies at the foot of some of the most unique biological territory in the world. The mountain terrain within our view supports in native habitat some of the most prolific numbers of species of animal and plant life on the planet. Even the United Nations has acknowledged the special nature of our native vegetation and unique habitat. While such gifts are ours to be stewards of, we must also value and appreciate the character of such treasures. The ever encroaching desire to enjoy such surroundings has led in some cases to a disregard for the fragility of such environs and the price of losing such treasures if we abuse them. We suffer from a consumer culture. We often fail to appreciate simple pleasures in pursuit of ever more complexly marketed necessities as taught by the most recent peddlers of success and brokers of influence.

At the same time, we hide ourselves from community; we isolate ourselves from friendships; we surround ourselves with walls, literal and social, all the while pretending we are enjoying it. One old adage noted: We spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like. It may be that one day we will wake up from such foolishness in time to see the world with a view to thanking God for it. Perhaps we might whisper a prayer of thanksgiving as we enjoy a fresh baked loaf of bread or a bowl of soup. When the sun rises over the mountain and we see the morning dew burning off the lowlands, maybe it will inspire us to consider these gifts for what they are ---God’s grace to us. And then – maybe, we can look in the face of our neighbor and recognize that they also are gifts to the world, to be treasured, understood, and regarded with thanks and praise to God.