This Is My Father's World - Happy Earth Day - Don't Fear

As I was walking into school this morning a student walked up and asked me if capuchin monkeys are endangered. Since I don't even touch dogs, I can't really claim to be an expert on any animal. The reason he was wondering was because today is Earth Day and his teacher is giving credit to anyone who brings in an endangered stuffed animal. For the students sake, I hope they are. For the sake of the capuchins, let's hope they're bigger than ever.

As we gathered for chapel we sang the hymn, 'This is My Father's World.' I talked to the kids about fear and how people use it to motivate us to take care of the earth. Fear can be an excellent motivator. Kids who are terrified of consequences will modify their behavior. But their hearts won't change. Hearts change and behavior is transformed when the motivator is love.

As I listen to the current debates regarding the earth and its imminent demise, I'm reminded of God's most often repeated commandment. Do not fear. It's in the bible 366 times. Once for every day of the year, including a leap year.

God made the world and everything in it. He called the skies, seas, land, and trees good. He put us here and mandated that we work and care for his creation. We should love the earth. We should protect the animals and strive to maintain the beauty God has placed here. We should do it because it is his world and he has told us to.

I think Christians should recycle. I think we should pick up any trash we see. I think we should be responsible with energy, gas, and food. But we shouldn't do any of these things out of fear. We should do it because it is our Father's world. The creation glorifies him. We do too, when we honor him by obeying his commandment to take care of his earth.

 This is my Father's world, 
 and to my listening ears 
 all nature sings, and round me rings 
 the music of the spheres.  
 This is my Father's world:  
 I rest me in the thought 
 of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; 
 his hand the wonders wrought.

 This is my Father's world, 
 the birds their carols raise, 
 the morning light, the lily white, 
 declare their maker's praise.  
 This is my Father's world:  
 he shines in all that's fair; 
 in the rustling grass I hear him pass; 
 he speaks to me everywhere.

 This is my Father's world.  
 O let me ne'er forget 
 that though the wrong seems oft so strong, 
 God is the ruler yet.  
 This is my Father's world:  
 why should my heart be sad?  
 The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!  
 God reigns; let the earth be glad!