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Creational Devotional |Day Two
Day Two: Water and Air
Today’s Reading
(Genesis 1, verses 6-8)
And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the
waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." So God made the
dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters
that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there
was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Prayer
(From Psalm 104)
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great. ...
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you
make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds
you messengers . . ..
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow
between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench
their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches. Amen.
Meditation Options
(1) Activity for young children to adults.
Please read the reading and prayer for today. Bring a
bowl of water (any size; or if outside, please find a place located near
a body of water) to a central area in your gathering place. Find a sitting
place that is comfortable for you. Take time to sit in silence, several
minutes if possible. During this silence, take deep, slow breaths so that
it feels like air is filling your entire body. Listen to the sound of your
own breathing, and that of people around you. During this time, use the
bowl of water as a place to focus your attention. Please think about today’s
reading. After your time of silence, go around from person to person and
talk about things like the following:
- How do you know that air exists?
- Where do you come in contact with water on a daily basis?
- Are there other times when you just stop and listen to yourself and others breathe?
- What sorts of things do we use the water for at church? Why?
- What would you like to do with this bowl of water? (Suggestions: gently sprinkle it on each other, feed it to a pet or to a plant, use it for tea or cooking, leave it where it is as a reminder of your time of silence.)
(2) Reading for school-aged children to adults.
When you take a bath, do you realize that there is just
about the same amount of water in the bath tub as there is in your body?
Your body is made up mostly of water. The water in your body is similar
to the water that you just saw in the bowl, and it's also like the water
inside other living creatures (animals and plants), the rain, the water
in the lakes and seas, the water that stays in the sky inside of clouds,
and the water that God separated in the story today. God created us and
the entire world using water and continues to sustain us through the water
that we share with everyone and everything. God also created us, and sustains
us, through the "wind" or "breath" that we read about yesterday – which
are like the air that we breathe. So, in addition to water, everything
that lives also shares air. The birds in the sky, entire forests, all humans
and animals, the ground the we walk on, and even water itself! It is so
amazing that we get to share air and water with all creatures and the entire
earth. Do you think that we share air and water with God?
(3) Further thoughts for older children and adults.
Sallie McFague writes:
"All living creatures, not just human ones, depend upon
breath. Breath also knits together the life of animals and plants, for
they are linked by the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in each breath
inhaled and exhaled." (Sallie McFague, The Body of God: An Ecological
Theology, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993, p. 143.)
Consider how might our lungs be like trees in a forest. According to Sallie McFague, how might our own bodies be linked to forest vegetation throughout the world?
Growing Prayer
(One person:) Dear God,
As the winds continue to caress the waters of creation,
And the waves of the sea crash loudly,
All expressing thanks to You,
So we thank You for Your continued presence throughout
the entire family of creation.
(Everyone:) And God saw that creation was good! Amen