When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” vs. 16
Genesis 9:8-17
Humans have a hard time wrapping their heads around the notion that all living creatures have a divine connection. Generally we understand ourselves as being the center of the universe and give little thought to the thousands of other species that also inhabit this beautiful blue planet and that are loved by God. Our ancestors in faith, those whose creation stories we read in Genesis had a much more inclusive understanding of our relationship to other living creatures. Even in the story of the flood it is made clear that God’s rainbow connection includes Siberian tigers, whales, and burrowing owls. No animal is exempted! It’s therefore natural for people of faith to be energetically involved in the environmental efforts to preserve habitat for endangered species. Our human tendency to exploit the natural resources of the earth for the sake of our own pleasure and gain goes counter to our responsibility to look out for our animal companions, especially the ones most severely impacted by the changing climate. The face of the earth has changed drastically in the last couple of hundred years, and much of the so-called progress has been at the expense of those less numerous species with whom we share living space. Some would say that it’s past time for us to be concerned about our stewardship!
Thought for the Day: How do humans cause species extinctions?
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