“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” -Matthew 6:28b-30
I’ve been sneezing a lot lately. After being back in Texas for 8 years now, my allergies have finally returned with a vengeance, and I’ve been struggling with them. It’s been an annoyance, and there have been times at night, struggling to breathe through my nose, when I’ve wished the pollens and allergens would just disappear.
But then I thought of what theologian Diana Butler Bass might say in her book Grounded, and I remembered that the pollen in the air surrounding me is much more than an annoyance in a busy day—it’s the very sign of life and the circle of creation all around me. Do I stop to notice, or do I rush on with my own busyness?
The truth is, that without the pollen and dust and particles in the air that surround us and cause some of us to sneeze at times during the year, life would not be able to continue. We depend on these natural cycles; the bees that help fertilize plants, the pollens that cause them to reproduce; the carbon dioxide that the trees remove and the oxygen they release into the atmosphere. Without this delicate balance, we wouldn’t be here. We’re intrinsically connected as part of this great “web of belonging.”
Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount that the birds of the air and the plants in the field don’t worry about their lives or spend time getting caught up in stress and isolation; they simply exist in the balance and harmony of their Creator. Maybe those tiny particles in the air can teach me a similar lesson today.
The tragedy of our world is that there are so many who feel disconnected and alone, like no one or nothing cares for them. Last week, John and I both came down with the flu, and we had to really push ourselves to take care of one another throughout the week. It was not easy at times, but it was also a blessing to know that someone was there who cared, even while feeling miserable. We need each other. This past week, and this season when I’m sometimes struggling with the natural world, has reminded me of the importance of that interconnection. Who are the people that need to be reminded that they belong today? Who in my life needs to know that they belong and someone cares? That’s going to be my spiritual practice this week. Perhaps you’ll make it yours? So today, I’m going to thank God for the people in my life who care for me, and for the tiny particles of creation swirling around me. All a part of God’s good creation.
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