You do not need me to tell you that green plants move in the direction of sunlight because they need the light to photosynthesise; the process that is they key to their life. After a week away in Scotland recently, where the weather was less than ideal, my return to my usual walking routes soon brought me to the corner of a field where sunflowers are growing. I expect they are there as game cover but whatever the reason, seeing their bright yellow heads all facing the sun was a great antidote to the rain and grey of the previous week.
The Psalm today is number 8. It is a shout of praise to a great God who has made everything, and it reflects on our smallness beside God. Who are we? is the question. While the sunflowers turn instinctively into the sun, we question everything and, if we are not careful, we miss the moment.
Yes, it did rain a lot on Scotland, and it was cold, but the mountains were still majestic, the vegetation lush and green and the air free from pollution. The little purple flowers of the heather may be less overt than great yellow discs of the sunflowers but still they say in their way, ‘Lord, out creator. How majestic is your name in all the earth.’
When I think about this, I am reminded that it is the variety of our countryside and climate that makes our British Isles unique.
3When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
A Prayer
God of all creation, we give you our thanks and offer your praise because you have created us. We rejoice in all the infinite variety that is around us. Help us not to be distracted but to turn to face you to find life and energy; to be fed by your radiance. Amen.