The Web of Life

Genesis 1:27-29 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

27 So God created humankind[a] in his image,    in the image of God he created them;[b]    male and female he created them.28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 

Photo by michael podger on Unsplas

"All things are connected.  We did not weave the web of life.  We are best a strand in it.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the people of the earth."  Chief Seattle, 1854

This past October I observed a spider weaving an intricate web outside our kitchen window.  The spider was in the middle of the web, having carefully attached its work to the eaves of the house and on down to the honey-suckle vines.  Like the spider, we also live in the middle of a web, a web created by God.

The world is an incredible balance of parts.  All parts are interconnected.  Physically and spiritually we are all woven into the living Earth.  If one of the parts is struggling, all of creation is affected.  The ability of the Earth to support life has been deeply diminished.  The web of life is being destroyed within the animal and plant kingdoms.

Progress takes a heavy toll on our planet.  I am but one strand in the web, but my actions count.  When I drive my car or mow the lawn, I am causing pollution to impact someone else.  This raises the questions of what my actions do to others.  I believe that all of life is to be held in reverence at all times.

The Easter message is one of hope and triumph over death.  May we always be diligent in carrying out actions which hold all of life in reverence and harmony that the Easter message may be real.

Dear God, we ask your guidance in our endeavor to honor, respect and cherish our Earth, the web of life. Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 1:27 Heb adam
2. Genesis 1:27 Heb him

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Reprinted from St. Mark Presbyterian's 1999 Lenten Devotional with permission of the author R. G.